Levi's · 501XX · Hidden back-pocket rivets about 1937–1966
Before 1966 the 501 was sold as the 501XX, and Levi's had used XX for its top denim overalls since the 1870s. These are the pairs serious collectors chase. In 1937 Levi's started covering the back-pocket rivets with denim, after customers complained they scratched saddles, car seats and furniture, and new pairs carried a pocket flasher reading "The Rivet's Still There." The rivets wore through the denim anyway, and by 1966 bar tacks had replaced them. You can date a pair more closely inside that window. A one-sided tab and a leather patch point to the late 1940s or early 1950s, the tab went two-sided around 1953, and a leather-like patch replaced leather in the mid-1950s. Wartime S501XX pairs from 1942 to 1947 had their arcuates painted on to save thread. All of it is Cone Mills redline selvedge. Buy on clear photos of the inside of the back pockets, because the hidden rivets are what you're paying for.
Date it from the photos
Reissues and repros
Levi's Vintage Clothing reissues the 1937, 1944, 1947, 1955 and 1966 501s, and Japanese makers such as TCB, Sugar Cane and Full Count build 501XX-style jeans, some with a red tab for the Japanese market. LVC sizing doesn't follow the original tags, and early LVC carries three-digit factory numbers like 555 or 554 on the button. A care label inside rules out an original.
If you’ll collect it
Hidden rivets, a readable patch and an unaltered hem are what collectors pay for. A leather patch or a one-sided tab puts a pair in the top tier.
A 501XX was unsanforized, and the patch size is what it measured before shrinking, so a washed pair runs well under its tag. Fits changed inside this window too, and Superfuture notes the 1947 cut is slimmer and more fitted than the boxier mid-50s cut. Go by the waist measured flat and doubled, the front rise, the thigh and the leg opening, and compare them with a pair that fits you.
New to measuring old denim? Our measuring guide shows where to put the tape.
Measurements first, then the details
Seventy-year-old denim blows out at the crotch and thighs, and the knees and hem rolls wear through. Old darns are part of the story, but replaced patches, re-sewn tabs and new buttons need to be disclosed.
Buying guide
For a hidden-rivet 501XX to wear, we'd take the W29 L27 a US seller lists by its actual fit, at $1,411 delivered, well under the usual band. There are at least 24 for sale and most ask $2,300–5,150 delivered, with Japanese dealers behind about half the listings, so compare delivered prices. Buy on a clear photo inside the back pockets showing the rivet backs, then read the tab and patch. LEVI'S on one side of the tab only is before about 1953, and a leather patch means before the mid-1950s. These were unsanforized and the patch size is pre-shrink, so go by the waist measured flat and doubled, the rise, thigh and leg opening, and check the hem for a re-hem. Skip the $21,170 paper patch pair, more than six times the band median, and look hard at the $2,550 dark 28x32, whose photos show the legs opened into flares.
$1,065.31delivered
The lowest ask on a complete 501XX here, from a Japanese dealer with free shipping, titled 60s with hidden rivets and a 6 on the button. Check the W28 L29 against the waist measured flat in the photos.
Levi's 60s Vintage 501XX Big E Hidden Rivets Button 6 Indigo Jeans W28 L29
$1,410.88est. delivered
Titled 60s Big E redline with an actual fit of W29 L27, so it's been measured, at $1,411 delivered from a US seller. L27 is short, so check whether the hem is the original chain stitch or a re-hem.
Levi's 501XX Big E Redline Selvedge Blue Jeans Actual fit W29 L27 Vintage 60s
$3,090.52est. delivered
A one-sided tab and a leather patch are what put a 501XX in the top tier, and this one is titled 501XX47 with both, at mid-band. Ask for both sides of the tab and a photo inside the back pockets before you pay.
Levi'S 40S 50S 501Xx47 Original One-Sided Tab Leather Patch Denim Jeans Vintage
$611.78est. delivered
Titled needs repair, at $612 delivered, a fraction of the band. Ask the seller to show the damage, and budget for a denim repair on top.
Levi's 501XX Big E Redline Selvedge Blue Jeans W26 L28.5 *Needs Repair
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$1,065.31delivered
$1,065.31 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,065.31
Good buy
Titled 60s, hidden rivets, 6 button. Ships free from Japan.
Seller: japannamishop
100% positive
Used$1,410.88est. delivered
$1,400.00 + $10.88 shipping
Buy It Now$1,400.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled actual fit W29 L27. Short inseam, so check the hem.
Seller: 2009jdjd2013
99.9% positive
Used$3,090.52est. delivered
$3,075.52 + $15.00 shipping
Buy It Now$3,075.52
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled one-sided tab and leather patch, the top-tier details. Ships from Japan.
Seller: sunatona
99.7% positive
For parts$611.78est. delivered
$600.90 + $10.88 shipping
Buy It Now$600.90
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Titled needs repair, W26 L28.5. Ask to see the damage.
Seller: 2009jdjd2013
99.9% positive
Used$2,032.89delivered
$2,032.89 · free shipping
Buy It Now$2,032.89
Our take
Titled Guarantee patch, V stitch and offset back loop, W29 L31. Ships free from Japan.
Seller: japannamishop
100% positive
Used$2,550.00est. delivered
$2,500.00 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,500.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
The photos show the legs opened into flares. Altered, so skip it unless you want flares.
Seller: knightofnii
100% positive
Used$3,400.00delivered
$3,400.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,400.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 50s, faded and repaired. Ships free from Japan.
Seller: y_0515
100% positive
Used$21,169.99est. delivered
$21,000.00 + $169.99 shipping
Buy It Now$21,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled 1950s paper patch. More than six times the band median.
Seller: vintagegoldauctions
99.1% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
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Levi's · Straight leg
501Big E tab 1936–1971; this page covers the bar-tacked pairs of about 1966–1971
$460–$925 typical ask
Levi's · Jackets and coats
507XX1953 to about 1962
$3,150–$7,500 typical ask
Levi's · Straight leg
5011971 to the mid-1980s
$300–$525 typical ask