Abstract: A blast joint for protecting production tubing passing through a producing zone including one or more tubing joints of sufficient length to extend through the producing zone, erosion resistant carbide rings mounted on the tubing joints in end-to-end array, ring retainers at each end of the erosion resistant rings to hold the rings on the tubing joints, and one or more elastomer spacer rings engaged with the erosion resistant rings for holding the erosion resistant rings in end-to-end array and being yieldable axially by outward displacement in response to movement of the erosion resistant rings along the tubing joint to permit the rings to move in response to lateral bending of the tubing joints and impact forces on the blast joint during assembly and installation to minimize damage to the erosion resistant rings. The carbide rings are larger than the tubing joints to permit lateral bending of the tubing joints in the rings without stressing the rings.