8205.20 - Hammers and sledge hammers, and parts thereof:

This HTS category encompasses hammers and sledge hammers, along with their component parts. These tools are primarily designed for striking purposes, such as driving nails, shaping metal, breaking materials, or delivering forceful impact. Their construction typically involves a heavy head affixed to a handle, made from base metal.

Unlike sibling categories such as drilling, threading, or tapping tools (8205.10), or wood-cutting tools like planes and chisels (8205.30), hammers are distinguished by their percussive action rather than cutting, drilling, or scraping functions. Similarly, screwdrivers (8205.40) serve a different purpose of rotation for fastening. This classification focuses specifically on the striking mechanism and associated components.

The subcategories within 8205.20 further refine classification based on a key physical attribute: the weight of the hammerhead. HTS codes 8205.20.30.00 cover hammers and sledge hammers with heads not exceeding 1.5 kilograms each, while 8205.20.60.00 applies to those with heads weighing over 1.5 kilograms. This weight distinction is a primary criterion for distinguishing between lighter-duty hammers and heavier sledgehammers.