This disclosure relates to a percussion tool which includes a housing having a chamber reciprocally mounting a piston with first and second pressure ducts at opposite ends of the latter and a control duct therebetween as well as a return duct in fluid communication with the chamber at a point intermediate the points of entry of the first and second pressure ducts and reciprocal valve means for controlling the reciprocal motion of the piston, the improvement including a plurality of branch ducts of the control duct opening into the chamber in such a fashion that the branch ducts are successively opened and closed during the reciprocation of the piston.