Wrangler · 11MWZ · 1947 to about 1952, then renamed 13MWZ
Wrangler's first jean came out of Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1947. Blue Bell, an overall maker there, had bought the Wrangler name in 1943 and hired Bernard Lichtenstein, the Philadelphia tailor known as Rodeo Ben, to cut a jean for riders. After 13 prototypes the 11MWZ arrived with felled seams, flat rivets that wouldn't scratch a saddle, seven belt loops, a watch pocket up at the waistband and a zip fly. Wrangler says the 11 was the denim weight and MW meant Men's Western. Rodeo champions Jim Shoulders, Bill Linderman and Freckles Brown wore it in the ads. The very first run had arcuate-style pocket stitching, and the W followed in 1948. Around 1952 the lot became the 13MWZ, heavier denim and the same jean. Real 11MWZs are very rare, so treat any listing as a claim to prove, and ask for the label and the back pockets first.
Date it from the photos
Reissues and repros
TCB's Working Cat Hero jeans are close Japanese copies of the 11MW in left-hand twill, and Wrangler's own Icons 11MWZ (2019) is a slimmer take with lower pockets in broken twill. Wrangler's 2004 Blue Bell by Wrangler collection reproduced the first jeans too. Made in Japan, a modern care tag or broken-twill denim rules out an original.
If you’ll wear it
Want the look? A 1960s or 70s 13MWZ is the same jean in heavier denim and much easier to find.
If you’ll collect it
A 1947 pair with arcuate-style pockets is the one collectors want most, and any early pair with its patch and label intact is very rare. Expect heavy ranch wear on most survivors.
Measure, don't trust the tag. Rodeo Ben cut these closer than the boxy work jeans of the 1940s, with a higher back rise, room in the seat and thigh, and a narrower leg opening that sits over a boot. Cowboys bought them long so they stacked at the boot, so check whether a pair has been shortened. Ask for the waist flat and doubled, the front and back rise, the thigh and the leg opening, and expect 70-odd years of washing to have moved it well away from any tag.
New to measuring old denim? Our measuring guide shows where to put the tape.
Measurements first, then the details
Survivors were ranch jeans, so expect blown knees, frayed hems, crotch repairs and a lost back-pocket patch. Old hand darning is part of the story. A replaced zip or a modern re-hem is fine to wear but matters to a collector.
Buying guide
A real 11MWZ is a 1947 to about 1952 jean, so treat every listing as a claim to prove. Most of these are titled 1960s, and Wrangler had renamed the jean 13MWZ by about 1952, so ask for the lot number on the label and the Blue Bell logo before you pay 11MWZ money. If we were buying, we'd take the 60s pair titled 11MWZ 13MWZ with a slanted bell tag and Gripper zipper at $861 with free shipping, under the band. There are at least 25 listed, nearly all from Japanese dealers, and most ask $1,150–2,550 delivered. Ask for a close-up of the denim, since a zigzag broken twill means 1964 or later, and get the waist, rise, thigh and leg opening, since cowboys bought these long. Skip the zero-feedback seller's pair titled hidden rivets and the 64 Model W29 L33 title two sellers list.
$115.00est. delivered
The lowest ask at $115 delivered, from a US seller, titled 60s Blue Bell, farm worn, 28x28. Wrangler renamed the jean 13MWZ around 1952, so ask for the label lot number and a close-up of the weave.
Vtg 60s Wrangler denim Jeans 28x28 blue bell Farm Worn 11MWZ
$860.50delivered
Titled 60s 11MWZ 13MWZ with a slanted bell tag, USA and a Gripper zipper, at $861 with free shipping from Japan, under the band. Ask which lot number the label shows and for the waist measured flat.
Vtg 60s Wrangler 11MWZ 13MWZ Jeans W34 Slanted Bell Tag USA Gripper Zipper Auth
$1,542.05est. delivered
Titled unused 1960s with a Bell label and no rope logo, size S, at $1,542 delivered, near the median. Treat unused as a claim and ask for the paper tags and close-ups of the unwashed indigo.
Unused 1960s Wrangler 11MWZ Bell No Rope Logo Denim Jeans Pants Size S Rare
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$115.00est. delivered
$100.00 + $15.00 shipping
Buy It Now$100.00
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 60s Blue Bell, farm worn, 28x28. US seller.
Seller: oldeclothes800
100% positive
Used$860.50delivered
$860.50 · free shipping
Buy It Now$860.50
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 slanted bell tag, Gripper zipper, W34.
Seller: horbo-98
98.7% positive
New old stock$1,542.05est. delivered
$1,519.05 + $23.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,519.05
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 unused 1960s, size S. Ask for tag photos.
Seller: kodache-0
100% positive
Used$1,341.99delivered
$1,341.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,341.99
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 selvedge, 32x34. Wranglers have felled outseams, so ask where it shows.
Seller: mikais0
100% positive
![[50s WRANGLER 11MWZ] GRIPPER ZIPPER Denim Pants Mens 34x30](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LewAAeSwHO1qj~C1/s-l500.jpg)
Used$2,898.00est. delivered
$2,416.00 + $482.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,416.00
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 with a Gripper zipper, 34x30. $482 shipping from Japan.
Seller: treasurefeeling
99% positive
Used$310.15est. delivered
$300.00 + $10.15 shipping
Buy It Now$300.00
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.
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller. Wranglers use flat rivets, so ask about the hidden rivets.
Seller: revivevntg
No feedback yet
Used$1,807.00delivered
$1,807.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,807.00
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.
Check the seller
Two sellers list this 64 Model W29 L33 title.
Seller: transporter_in-ex_japan
100% positive
Used$3,537.05est. delivered
$3,514.05 + $23.00 shipping
Buy It Now$3,514.05
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-1960s, W38 L32. Over twice the median ask.
Seller: kodache-0
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
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$35–$50 typical ask
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