Abstract: An impact wrench 1, with a motor for transmitting a rotary movement to a spindle 2 located in a hammer cage 11 and with a cam drive 9, on the end face 12 of which a track 13 with an elevation 14 is located, is used to transmit frictional movement to the bolts to be tightened. In conjunction with the hammer cage 11, the cam drive 9 forms a channel 15 for the rotation of a ball 16 and engages in axially-displaceable pins 6, 7, which compress a spring 17 ensuring a return to the starting position by a displacement movement on a collar 3 surrounding the spindle 2 and triggering the hammer mechanism. A link 8 is provided between the pins 6, 7 and the collar 3 to transmit principally frictional movement between the pins 6, 7 and the spindle 2.