Steel body rotary drill bits including support elements affixed to the bit body at least partially defining cutter pocket recesses

A steel body rotary drag bit for drilling a subterranean formation, comprising:

• a steel bit body having a centerline and including a leading end having generally radially extending blades for contacting a formation during drilling, the steel bit body having a plurality of substantially arcuate surfaces, each substantially arcuate surface of the plurality at least partially defining a cutter pocket recess;
• a plurality of support elements, each support element of the plurality being affixed to the steel bit body and having a substantially planar surface at least partially defining the cutter pocket recess;
• a plurality of cutting elements, each cutting element of the plurality being at least partially disposed within the cutter pocket recess and having a substantially cylindrical body, a cutting face, and a substantially planar surface distal to the cutting face;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the substantially cylindrical body of each cutting element is directly secured to at least a portion of a substantially arcuate surface of the steel bit body, and wherein at least a portion of the substantially planar surface of each cutting element matingly engages at least a portion of the substantially planar surface of a support element of the plurality of support elements.