The method of producing a thin film magnetic head from a raw bar, in which a plurality of combinations of a thin film magnetic head including a reproducing head and an ELG element are continuously formed, comprises the steps of: measuring resistance of a magnetoresistance effect element section of each ELG element as first resistance; measuring resistance of a magnetoresistance effect element section of each thin film magnetic head as second resistance; detecting existence or nonexistence of a smear in an air bearing surface of each thin film magnetic head on the basis of the difference between the first resistance and the second resistance; and removing the smear from only the thin film magnetic head in which the existence of the smear is detected.