How To Tell If Wranglers Are Vintage

How to tell if your Wranglers are vintage? We dive into the methods for dating vintage wrangler. Remember that dates and eras are approx. and "rules" have exceptions. Wrangler manufactured in Europe as early as the early 60s so there are plenty of wranglers that have some of their own history. No guarantee these methods apply.
Remember to stick around to the very end the of video.
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Questions about your vintage Levi's? Email us at [e-mail]

[@strobe4321]

Such a great vid. I own a thrift/vintage store in NYC, and your vids have helped me more accurately date my denim. You’re the man!

[@LootFam]

Awesome to hear!! Thanks so much!

[@alanwoodwind5265]

And charge more too 😂

[@strobe4321]

@@alanwoodwind5265 you’re absolutely right

[@Ian-bq7gp]

I had blue bell wrangler flares in the late 1970s from around 1977. They were so hard-wearing and tough. The best jeans I've ever owned by anyone.

[@M6jimdaddy]

Josh puts in the WORK for all of us. A+ on this book report.

[@laue1207]

THANK YOU 🙌 you just gained a new follower ! As a vintage reseller I’m so happy to have found the era of my wranglers thanks to you !!

[@randypoisson8823]

Absolutely fantastic video. Glad I stuck around to the very end - helped me pinpoint the year.

[@josiahtombley58]

Dang a lot of hard work went in to this! Best info out there!

[@jamierunyan3025]

I love all your videos! Thanks for helping me on my journey to become a proper denim head.

[@Ranger504th]

Fantastic brother!! Some of the best content out there. Keep it up and definitely a "Field Guide" is in order.

[@LootFam]

Thanks bro! It sure is, you let me know.

[@valcliffhanger]

I'll be rewatching this one over and over thanks

[@darlapanabaker9349]

I've got a pair of black denim Wranglers that I think are Vintage. (made in the USA) The Zipper doesn't have a brand on it; but, it has a cut out of a western boot.

[@LootFam]

The boot zipper was a product of the 90s. It's possible it's still vintage, but not that old. Thanks!

[@BizarreSummer]

I have a pair of Blue Bell carpenter pants that don’t have the wrangler stamp! I could send you a photo if you’d like! The zipper on it is very old it’s called Prentice.

[@LootFam]

Sure!

[@LootFam]

They are likely just Blue Bell pants. Blue Bell kept making work wear under the blue bell name.

[@cynthiaquinn747]

I just bought a pair of wrangler patch jeans at Ernie Sullens outlet (a local business store only) for $20. 85 size 30 waist - 40 length

[@susieqsie9911]

As a fellow clothing nerd, I appreciate the work you do! I have some women's cutoffs that look to be 90s with a 4 at the beginning of that string of numbers and letters. USA made, no other labels/logos like cotton or the American made one you showed. The back pockets do not have the W. There is a small patch on the front coin pocket that says Wrangler W America. The button says the same and the zipper pull has a boot on it. Back of the zipper says USA 45.

[@LootFam]

Sounds to me like 1994. There were a few versions if wranglers in that era with no W on pockets.

[@ryan44jones]

Appreciate the video, especially the after thoughts. I have a pair with “CHEER” starts with a “3” so guessing 1983.

[@yungestlegend]

Dude you are awesome. Thank you for sharing your passion.

[@LootFam]

I appreciate that!

[@Taylormade09]

I just found some Long Time Friend wranglers that fit me perfectly and wanted to more about them. I wish they were mentioned. 😭

[@LootFam]

Oh man! Sweet find! Generally, these would most likely be from the 70s. Wasn't a super popular Wrangler brand, but super cool to find! Thanks for mentioning them!

[@Cell2SellXPrisoner]

Hello, I had a question , do you have an email where I can send you pictures of my Wranglers? I think they are the 1976's - early 80s you spoke of. GREAT CONTENT!

[@LootFam]

[e-mail]. See you there!

[@jalynjenkins8645]

FINALLY! Thank you so much for the video! Your content is so great and informative

[@LootFam]

Thanks!!

[@barbiehall695]

I am a newish viewer and am loving your channel. So much helpful information. I just want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and all the work to make these videos. You rock!

[@LootFam]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@saleemwaheed9956]

Great work! Ima keep searchin!!

[@BrittanyBishop27]

You're awesome! Appreciate you!

[@jimdunn1661]

Josh have you ever heard of the Brand of jeans called Enzyme, the last E is printed backwards looking like a 3. They have a leather patch on the back with the name. I have looked everywhere. Thank you in advance.

[@LootFam]

I actually haven't. Still so many brands to discover.

[@mjh5437]

I think Enzyme is a British brand.

[@BackwoodsBlades330]

Cool i found a pair of 20x cowboy jeans so now I know they are 2001 or after since it was made in Mexico. The care tag is almost unreadable.

[@jontoyman]

Great work as usual. You channel is the most informative concerning all things vintage clothing. 👏

[@LootFam]

Thanks so much! I appreciate that!

[@alexanderellis7515]

I have a pair of Wrangler Blue 10x30 jeans with rope like design writing, with what looks like a faint blue bell logo above wrangler logo. On the back end of the jeans there is no W on the back pocket. But the inside label runs perpendicular with machine washing instructions. On the zip is a cowboy boot. I want to say the jeans are from the early 70s.

[@thibautmayans5922]

hey for the label I have a 9HAFF080 2 B20 which correspond to a late 80 (89) pair probably made at factory AFF, 080 such as number of total production (000-999)

[@LootFam]

Nice!

[@TheGrelots]

I’m somewhat confused, you say that the coton logo was used as early as 1974 yet you then say that tags with the logo indicate pre 1974. It’s the main thing I have to go on so I want to make sure I understand. Would love if you could enlighten me!

[@LootFam]

The seal of cotton was used after 1974. Thanks for watching!

[@XenoLordX]

I have a jacket that says Wrangler HERO, you didn’t mention HERO on your video. However, do you know how old it would be?

[@LootFam]

Hero was a 90s thing. Later 90s most likely.

[@XenoLordX]

@@LootFam thank you!

[@mrcreative504]

Thank you for this information..

[@cleverendeavor]

Hi, I hope you still read comments. What era is the cowboy boot zipper era from? I am not sure if the jeans I have are retro or vintage.

[@LootFam]

Post VF era 1987-

[@clobberonline6812]

Great knowledge! Thanks

[@hefmeisteretal]

Why didn't you mention the biggest change in Wranglers, i.e. the elimination of the double felled inseam (and now only the double felled outseam) in the late '70's?

[@LootFam]

There are a lot of things not mentioned. I didn’t bring up the twill change either. I have found that too many details can be unhelpful, so i had to pick and choose. Good question though!

[@SlasherGuyy1]

What if the zipper has a cowboy boot ?😮 I’ve seen couple like that on eBay So if it has the cotton logo on the info paper on the back wrangler tab ( I found a pair new ) that means it’s from the 70’s doesn’t matter if isn’t on the inside ?

[@LootFam]

Only as old as late 80s.

[@SlasherGuyy1]

@@LootFam that was a reply to the cowboy it’ll be 80’ s ?? & also forgot to mention. Thanks for the video ! This gives. A better idea , but as you mentioned there are still few things to sort out to give an exact day , but awesome you put the work for everybody🙌

[@amyhebron9553]

If the back pockets do not have a “W”, are they women’s jeans? The front pockets are very deep which led me to believe they were mens jeans. The care tag is completely washed out. You answered a question regarding an unbranded zipper with an outline of a boot, dating the jeans to the 90s. Does that also apply to women’s jeans?

[@LootFam]

No, the lack of W wouldn't tell you whether they were womens. They sound like men's though. Yes, the boot zipper also applies to women's wranglers. Thanks for watching!

[@amyhebron9553]

Thank you for the reply!

[@BigOfJosephine]

@ 3 min what is the word are you using for the logo on the back pocket? Sounds like: argument or augment??

[@LootFam]

Arcuate. Its what we call the stitching on the back pockets

[@mollybertsch9885]

I have a pair of vintage wranglers that were made in Canada, they don't have a blue bell on the actual tag but they are on the pocket buttons and I haven't been able to find any jeans that are similar. So I really have no clue when they were made.

[@chrisclayton584]

Maybe you can answer this question. I've been looking into the wrangler 13 mwz line of jeans and they have letters I don't understand that perhaps you can decipher. Such as.... 13mwz 13mwzcg 13mwzwk 13mwzkl 13mwzpw 13mwztd 13mwzgk.... they are maybe more but I haven't found info anywhere.

[@LootFam]

Honestly, i'm only sure of what the first part means: 13 is the weight of the denim , and MWZ stands for Men's With Zipper. It's on my list to eventually try catalog all the variations.

[@chrisclayton584]

@@LootFam That would be a great video if you could figure them out. I emailed wrangler for a guide but I've had no response so far.

[@LootFam]

@@chrisclayton584 Yeah, Wrangler has been no help at all to me in the past. haha.

[@chrisclayton584]

@@LootFam I got an email today from wrangler. You are correct that the 13mwz is the style, weight, zipper but they said the last 2 letters are the color.

[@Lunatic4Bizcas]

13MWZPW means 13 MWZ that are pre-washed or come pre-washed upon purchase unlike the raw 13 MWZ that have a rougher texture upon purchase and a shine. The other letters that are found after the MWZ in other models are probably color designations, which is at least what I've found in my personal experience. Cheers.

[@jennifermiller1066]

I have a denim jacket. On the back there is a wide brown patch with the rope wrangler logo. Can u tell me what year it may be. I cant find info anywhere

[@LootFam]

Can you send me some photos to [e-mail]?

[@akiraroberts726]

I have a pair of “Wrangler blues” the logo is the lasso logo with the trademark and the tag is perpendicular to the zipper and the zipper looks like the “gripper zipper” with a cowboy boot printed on it. I couldn’t decipher. What year they might be from with this video sadly. Would you know what year they are from?

[@akiraroberts726]

I forgot to mention, the logo is on the back on the waist and it says “Wrangler” in the lasso and the “blues” is lowercase in a circle and the patch is light brown with checkered dark brown leather

[@LootFam]

If the jeans have a boot zipper they would be younger than the late 80s. Early 90s sounds about right.

[@lisamccormick7338]

I have a pair of women’s that has NO mark on the back pocket, but has an inverted triangle, where a patch must have been, like the guess jeans. But label is full on mid90’s wrangler. What do I have?! Also a very cinched waist

[@Glitchfaction]

I’ve found quiet a few pairs that are made in USA and had a hook closure instead of a button. And they say “elite” on the hook

[@filippotedeschini8457]

Hi, I have a vintage deadstock wrangler jeans certainly after the 70s, certainly produced before the 90s but since these are jeans produced in Italy the rules could be different. Can you tell me when Wrangler started producing a part of his jeans in Italy? Thanks

[@williamkroft7180]

Do you know anything about ideal zippers?

[@irvwop9816]

I have a pair of wranglers but don’t know exactly what time frame they come from. They’re made in USA and have DS tags. I couldn’t seem to find a blue bell either

[@LootFam]

Could you send me some photos to [e-mail]? I can take a look.

[@irvwop9816]

@@LootFam done🙏

[@colinbernard3542]

I'm curious as to what "Deadstock" means in regards to denim. Does it absolutely have to have the advertising tag attached to the back? I got a pair that is made in Mexico of US fabric and I immediately noticed how thick and dark the denim was. It was very stiff too and the back pocket on the right still had the two "hokes or loops that the cardboard wouldn't been attached to. I know for a fact they were never washed or worn because of the above comments. Also the smell is very noticeable that you can just tell they were stored away. These are 936DEN and size 32x32 for men, but that's impossible because I can't even close the buttons on them, even remotely and I take a size 30x30. I'm guessing that they are from the early 00's so would the size be a mistake and were therefore shelved? Thanks.

[@LootFam]

Deadstock in denim doesn't exactly mean "unwashed" but unwashed will sell similarly to deadstock in many cases. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably to a degree. Missed sizing is a common ds cause. Also jeans can shrink over time from moisture in the storage environment, but two inches is a bit much.

[@johnscribb6731]

my wrangler CARPENTER jeans of the 1990's and early 2000's fit different than the ones I order today. They are not as loose fitting, they are more of a slim cut or something. What accounts for this?

[@LootFam]

I think Wrangler has slimmed some of their designs since the 90s. My guess is just to keep with the trends of the times.

[@SlasherGuyy1]

If you buy these brand new offeBay , Etsy etc.) with a cold wash and line dry would they shrink a lot either way ? Or same as average day denim were not really ??

[@AsaHolmgren]

I have a wrangler jean jacket - the tag is black, first a yellow filled-in ’W’ on white square background. Followed by ’wrangler’ in yellow. Could you help me date it please? ❤

[@LootFam]

Sounds like a mid 80s Wrangler jacket.

[@mhilestecson]

Been waiting for this one! Hahah

[@davidtroute443]

I have about 15 pair of old wranglers faded bigtime wonder what there worth

[@dawidpiotrowski3709]

hey, i have pair of made in UK Wrangler jeans with ykk zipper. Inside of the trousers (in crotch area) is stitched yellow tag. Maybe You can help mi identify from what period they are. thanks :)

[@mjh5437]

Wow,I never knew Wrangler had a factory in Great Britain!!

[@maryanneltzroth9777]

I found a wrangler with orange embroidered horse on the right front pocket, do you have any idea what year it is? Mine is 5HWAE7323 (9 digits), no idea what year it is. Thank you for your help and video help me a lot.

[@GraphicsFrosTy]

Long time sub, this couldn’t have come at a better time. Just got a lot of old thrashed jeans from a guy, 25 pairs for 25 bucks!

[@LootFam]

Yooo! That’s a serious deal! Great job!

[@henrontv4558]

Does anybody know anything about the production on Honduras history? Because I see a lot of “vintage made in Honduras” wranglers.

[@LootFam]

Started In Late 90s into 2000s. Largely moved to Mexico later on.

[@drakesmith3520]

So I have a pair of wranglers with a perpendicular tag, with a separate care tag sewn on the inside pocket and a scovill zipper… it seems like an anomaly due to the way the periods seemed to be split… any insight??

[@LootFam]

Could you send some photos to [e-mail]?

[@Robert_Davidson]

I’m assuming rustler is the same for dating ?

[@LootFam]

Yes, generally!

[@jahblessin3996]

Just got a pair or corduroy women’s wranglers with no pockets. They have a grid tag sewn on the back. Do u think 70’s?

[@soldiers23]

Very informative video about Wrangler. I appreciate very much your work and research. Just want to ask if anybody see Wrangler “no fault” jeans with “Wrangler “ engraved zipper.

[@randypoisson8823]

Yes, I have a pair from 1982 with block letter button and W zipper. Back is marked 5YG. Has the All Temperature Cheer tag - no “made in” and just plain 945 - no suffix.

[@soldiers23]

@@randypoisson8823 Thank You, actually I didn’t see the back side of the zipper where is written “IDEAL”. I found that it is an US brand.Looks like it is not very common.

[@Hand0verFist]

Hi! I have a denim jacket that has same tag as 11:24 in video. It says no fault denim & has the crafted with pride usa symbol. Is this vintage 70s? Model is 74126NV. The listing I bought it from said it was. Thanks 🙂

[@LootFam]

No, the Crafted with pride logo didn't exist until the mid 80s.

[@Hand0verFist]

@@LootFam The seller I bought from told me the symbol took hold with some national campaigns in the 80s but was used prior. The jacket came from the sealed attic estate of a gentleman who passed away in 1981 & specifically does still date it to the 70s. Do you think this could be true? Thanks mate. Awesome video by the way. Learnt a lot!

[@LootFam]

@@Hand0verFist send me some photos to [e-mail]. The Crafted with pride campaign was launch in 1984. I also have not seen any record of wrangler using it until 1985.

[@bernadettecoulombe9959]

I have a pair of wranglers made in the UK that I can’t tell how old they are at all.. looks different from the US ones!

[@sydney6145]

i have recently thrifted a vintage pair of wranglers and i am having trouble dating them. there is no inside tag, besides the tag with the SKU code. they have two perpendicular lines on the back pocket, and a wrangler brand on the front pocket and on the button. the zipper is YKK, and the SKU tag has an address from North Carolina on it. Please help!!!

[@kellywhelan2529]

I have a pair with a perpendicular tag with wash instructions so i was thinking early70s, but then you said the "no fault" tag came about in mid 70s., and my tag also has that on it. So I am confused because mid 70s jeans should have a parallel tag?? Maybe I miss understood... can you help?

[@mobypicks2435]

I have what appears to be a vintage Wrangler sherpa lined range jacket, but the tag is blue and has a horse on it. Any help?

[@lisettechaves213]

Same!! But mine is red!! I really want to know about it!!

[@nellcarl1]

I have a pair of Wranglers with Copper buttons on the fly, (like 501's) the top waist button says Wrangler but the other one down the front say nothing?? I can't find anything about the button up front fly?

[@LootFam]

Could you send me some photos to [e-mail]?

[@nellcarl1]

@@LootFam done, hope you can help Id this pair

[@LootFam]

I don’t seem to have the email in my inbox. Could you send again?

[@LootFam]

Nevermind, found in spam.

[@christiangamba8239]

Hey so my wrangler tag is almost like a plastic. Is that normal or do I have a fake pair?

[@lukadogsnitch3816]

How about made in Mexico of US fabric?

[@LootFam]

Generally a marker of the late 90s early 2000s.

[@esoreille145]

Hi, I have a pair of Lady Wranglers, straight leg panel jeans with YKK zipper back pockets, they also have a faded yellow tag vertical to the zipper it’s got the code WFL101 and 1BAN889RT, it also says made in South Africa. I’m struggling to find any information about when they were made, can anyone help??

[@johannervinadvincula8359]

how about for wrangler made in japan

[@LootFam]

Generally mean modern repro.

[@mohammedbourqqadi7992]

my vintage wrangler has 9 digits not 8 as you mentioned 1JL W267 23

[@LootFam]

Generally they are 8 but they they can be longer. Depending on the label style I'd expect 81 or 91.

[@harrybrown7680]

Finally🎉

[@LootFam]

You’re telling me! Haha

[@harrybrown7680]

@@LootFam Awesome, unique video!

[@emiliedul5350]

And what if it is made in United Kingdom ? Thxs 🙂

[@LootFam]

Most likely more modern, but there was production in Europe as early as the 60s.

[@bebenmadman]

Great Kamala Harris ad prior to your video 😅😅😅

[@LootFam]

Doesn't seem like people who wear wrangler would likely be her demo, but what do I know.

[@bebenmadman]

@@LootFam True dat. Interesting how the advertising money is being spent 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dark_gravity_edc]

Tried checking your theory. All of my more recent Wrangler products seem to match best i can tell. My older vintage models are all illegible or don't have a care tag at all. They have the product label with size and such but nothing else related. I know all were purchased in the last 20-25 years. They're what became Wrangler Retro and were called Benny's. I can send pics if you want them.

[@LootFam]

Would love that if you could! [e-mail]