A print hammer having an improved head portion for striking a selected moving print character member in a line printing device is provided. The printing device prints when the print hammer strikes a print character member at a predetermined print position forcing the character member against an ink ribbon, a print paper and a platen. The head portion is formed with an inclined surface facing the direction of approaching adjacent character members to drive an adjacent character member striking the side of the print hammer around the print hammer for avoiding jamming and damage to character members and print hammers. In a preferred embodiment the head portion is substantially "V" shaped with the apex of the V disposed in a direction opposite to the movement of the print character members.