A drill pipe elevator includes first and second separable pieces. Each piece comprises a drill pipe-receiving groove, and a pair of diametrically opposed projections with each projection forming only part of a pair of diametrically opposed lifting posts. The first and second separable pieces when positioned together define the pair of diametrically opposed lifting posts from the pair of diametrically opposed projections and define a drill pipe-receiving passageway through the drill pipe elevator that is oriented transversely between the lifting posts.