A chuck device in a robot hand is used when receiving a primary formed workpiece from electrode chucks. After receiving the primary formed workpiece, and before inserting the primary formed workpiece from its shaft stem part into an insertion hole in a forging press main body, a portion held by the electrode chucks of the primary formed workpiece is gripped by a chuck device different from the chuck device, to release the gripping of the primary formed workpiece by the chuck device. Therefore, it is possible to insert the holding portion held by the electrode chucks from the side of the shaft stem part of the primary formed workpiece into the insertion hole. Thereby providing a bar material transfer method capable of accurately inserting the bar material from its one end into a predetermined positioning hole even if a bar material serving as a workpiece is short.