Gas bottle valve stem protective device with optional finger grips

A gas cylinder valve stem protective device, said device comprising a three-sided body capable of being positioned about three-sides of a four-sided gas cylinder valve stem in protective relationship to at least a portion of the faces of said three sides of said valve stem, said gas cylinder valve stem having a gas port and pin index holes, said body comprised of two opposing sides and a side extending therebetween, one of said sides having at least one projection extending from an interior surface thereof and configured to engage at least a portion of an opposing surface of said valve stem whereby said protective device is prevented from being easily removed from engagement with said valve stem, one of said opposing sides having extending therefrom a locking strip capable of being lockingly engaged with said other of said opposing sides to maintain said three-sided body in encompassing relationship with at least a portion of said valve stem, said device including at least one tear strip whereby said protective device may be removed by tearing said tear strip so as to permit disengagement and removal of said protective device from encompassing relationship to said at least a portion of said valve stem.