Abstract: A horizontal check valve has a swinging clapper (16) eccentric with a tapered valve seat (14) and carrying a floating ring seal. There is clearance between the clapper (16) and the passage wall at the bottom so that reverse flow urges the ring seal into the taper. The clapper (16) abuts an abutment surface (15) formed by the valve body (10) around the valve seat so that the hydrostatic forces exerted on the clapper (16) by the reverse fluid flow are reacted by the abutment surface and not by the tapered seat (14).