Canned valve seal

A telescopic assembly comprising:

• at least one upper tube;
• at least one lower tube, wherein said at least one upper tube and said at least one lower tube are telescopically disposed with respect to each other to form at least one fluid chamber within said telescopic assembly;
• and
• a piston disposed at least partially within said fluid chamber and dividing said fluid chamber into a first portion and a second portion, said piston comprising:
• a body with at least one fluid pathway therethrough, said at least one fluid pathway extends between said first portion and said second portion of said fluid chamber;
• a valve slidably disposed at least partially within said body, wherein said valve is configured and disposed to control a fluid flow through said at least one fluid pathway;
• and
• a valve seal within a gland formed in said body, said valve seal providing a fluid seal between said body and said valve by said valve seal contacting both said body and said valve when said valve is in a closed position to prevent said fluid flow through said at least one fluid pathway, said valve seal comprising:
• a stiff component;
• and
• a sealing material about said stiff component.