Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
A Taylor hammer is the reflex hammer with a triangular rubber head on a flat metal handle, designed by John Madison Taylor in 1888. In US regulation it is not a separate device type: FDA lists it under the generic name “percussor”, a Class I device exempt from premarket notification (510(k)).
Who uses it: physicians and other clinicians performing neurological examinations, and students learning the examination. Staff who stock exam rooms can use the regulatory table below to see what FDA does and does not require of the product.
What a Taylor hammer is
The Taylor hammer is one of the best-known reflex hammer styles. It is described as a triangular rubber component attached to a flat metallic handle, and it was designed by John Madison Taylor in 1888 (Wikipedia, “Reflex hammer”). Wikipedia describes the traditional Taylor hammer as significantly lighter than the heavier European hammers.
The triangular head is why it is also called a tomahawk reflex hammer. For a broader introduction to reflex hammers, see What Is a Reflex Hammer?.
Taylor vs tomahawk vs other reflex hammers
Is a Taylor hammer the same as a tomahawk reflex hammer?
Both names point to the triangular-headed style: the Taylor name comes from its designer, and tomahawk describes the head shape. The table compares it with the other named styles described on Wikipedia.
| Style | Head and handle | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor (tomahawk) | Triangular rubber head on a flat metal handle | Traditionally lighter than heavier European hammers |
| Trömner | Two-headed mallet | Larger head for tendon reflexes, smaller head for percussion myotonia |
| Queen Square | Taper-ended reflex hammer associated with UK neurology | Its taper end, once used for plantar testing, is no longer recommended for infection-control reasons |
| Babinski | Similar to Queen Square, with a metal and often detachable handle | Some versions telescope |
Source for every row: Wikipedia, “Reflex hammer” (checked 2026-10-31). For the Trömner style and its regulatory record, see Trömner Reflex Hammer.
Is a Taylor hammer a medical device?
Yes. FDA regulates reflex hammers under 21 CFR 882.1700. The regulation (checked 2026-10-31) defines a percussor as “a small hammerlike device used by a physician to provide light blows to a body part” and says it is “used as a diagnostic aid during physical examinations.” A Taylor hammer fits that description, so the same classification applies as to other reflex hammer styles.
| Item | What the FDA record states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Device name | Percussor | FDA Product Classification, code GWZ |
| Regulation | 21 CFR 882.1700 | eCFR |
| Device class | Class I (general controls) | eCFR; FDA classification database |
| Premarket notification | Exempt from 510(k), subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 882.9 | eCFR |
| Quality system | Exempt from part 820 except records and complaint files | eCFR |
| Sterility condition | The quality-system (GMP) exemption applies as long as the device is not labeled or represented as sterile | FDA classification database; eCFR |
In practice, a manufacturer does not need a 510(k) clearance to market a reflex hammer in the US, but general controls still apply, and the records and complaint-file requirements remain.
Safe use and handling basics
A percussor is defined as a small hammerlike device, so it is a hand-held tool. Care and cleaning instructions come from the manufacturer of the specific hammer and vary by model; FDA classification does not set them. The recommendation against using a Queen Square taper end for plantar testing shows that shared-use exam tools are an infection-control matter, so follow your facility’s policy and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Common mistakes
- Treating “Taylor” and “tomahawk” as two different regulated devices. FDA lists reflex hammers together as percussors, code GWZ.
- Reading “510(k) exempt” as “unregulated”. The device is Class I and remains under general controls.
- Assuming the quality-system exemption applies to a hammer sold as sterile. FDA’s listing conditions that exemption on the device not being labeled or represented as sterile.
Where reflex hammers fit among exam supplies
Clinics often group reflex hammers with other diagnostic instruments; see diagnostic, monitoring and imaging supplies. Related examination tools we cover include the Wartenberg pinwheel and the 128 Hz tuning fork.
FAQ
Who designed the Taylor hammer?
John Madison Taylor designed it in 1888, according to Wikipedia’s “Reflex hammer” article (see Sources).
Is a Taylor hammer the same as a tomahawk reflex hammer?
Yes in common usage: both refer to the triangular rubber-headed style on a flat metal handle.
Is a Taylor hammer a medical device?
Yes. FDA classifies it as a percussor, Class I, exempt from 510(k) under 21 CFR 882.1700.
Sources
- 21 CFR 882.1700 Percussor, eCFR: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-882/subpart-B/section-882.1700 (checked 2026-10-31).
- FDA Product Classification, code GWZ: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpcd/classification.cfm?id=GWZ (checked 2026-10-31).
- Wikipedia, “Reflex hammer” (source for design and history): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflex_hammer (checked 2026-10-31).
