Abstract: A slip gripping mechanism is shown for supporting a cylindrical conduit within the interior bore of a circumscribing conduit in a well bore. An outer body is provided as a part of the cylindrical conduit and has circumferentially spaced, longitudinally disposed slots. Axially shiftable slips are carried on the outer body of the cylindrical conduit in the slots with each of the slips having opposing side edges which engage mating profiles formed in the slots whereby the slots form guideways for the slips for shifting the slips axially and radially outward relative to the outer body between a set position engaging the circumscribing conduit and an unset position. Each of the axially shiftable slips has a lower surface and an upper gripping surface, the upper gripping surface being formed on a longitudinal radius as drawn from a center point located in a plane parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical conduit.