An annulus, with outwardly projecting limbs, comprises the blank from which a valve retainer is formed. The retainer employs the limbs to latchingly engage an internal, recessed land in a cylinder, in order to support a valve within the cylinder, while a valve cage is thereafter set into the cylinder independently. The limbs of the blank are bent into a substantially normal disposition, relative to the annulus, albeit slightly splayed outwardly to insure a resiliently-effected latching thereof with the land, and free ends of the limbs have bights formed therein to present latching surfaces for engaging the land.