A ratchet wrench comprises a handle (2) in which a ratchet spring (1) extends axially between the wrench head at one end of the handle and a gripping sleeve (4) at the other end thereof. The gripping sleeve carries a rotatable or twistable resetting sleeve (3) by means of which the ratchet spring can be adjusted between two predetermined positions so as to activate a ratchet device mounted in the wrench head. The ratchet spring has a hairpin-like bend whose one leg (22) engages the resetting sleeve while the other leg (21) thereof can be snapped around a shoulder (8) located on the bottom of 15 an operating chamber (7) located within the gripping sleeve. The axial extension of the other leg finds correspondence in the crank (11) formed by the ratchet spring in the transition to the wrench head. The crank engages in and adjusts the ratchet device, thereby enabling the direction in which the ratchet wrench can return freely to be reversed.