A stee tool joint protector for a drill pipe comprises of a pair of unitary semi cylindrical tension bearing metallic skeleton members, each skeleton member having an axially directed hinge joint and each skeleton member of said pair having a wedge receiving lock structure at a longitudinal joint diametrically opposite said hinge joint, each skeleton member of said pair having a semi cylindrical inner periphery and an axial length equal to at least about the diameter of the drill pipe to be protected and each skeleton member of said pair having a plurality of uninterrupted elongated circumferentially extending parallel openings forming therebetween an array of a plurality of ribs with circumferentially aligned ends, the ends of said openings are adjacent to said hinge joint and said lock structure and the ends of said openings are aligned parallel to said hinge joint and said lock structure, each of said ribs having an unsupported span between the ends thereof.