Abstract: A valve having improved resistance to black powder wear and damage includes a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, an upper bonnet assembly defining a stem opening, and a stem passing through the stem opening. The valve also includes an elongate gate having a proximal end operatively attached to the stem, a distal end, an orifice sized and adapted to permit essentially unopposed passage of material through the gate when the orifice is aligned with the flow passage of the valve body, the orifice being located proximate the proximate end of the gate, and a solid portion sized and adapted to substantially completely block the flow of material through the gate when the solid portion is aligned with the flow passage of the valve body, the solid portion being located distally of the orifice such that the orifice is located between the proximal end and the solid portion.