LEVI'S 501 (66BIGE, Feb 1973) <Denim Archives>

It's a 66 BIGE model 501 from February 1973, with BIG E tabs but "CARE INSTRUCTION INSIDE GARMENT" stamped on the patch and washing instructions and shrinkage stamps on the slake. The tab is BIGE, but the specification of the patch and the sewing in the one of the manufacture of the time when the red tab of small e already existed is based on the early 66 model, and it seems that it can be taken as the early 66 model in substance though the tab is BIGE. This means that the BIGE tabs that were still in stock after the specification change were used as is. It's hard to tell at a glance whether a BIG E 501 is a regular BIG E or a 66BIGE, especially if the paper patch is removed, but you can tell from the way the fly button and outseam are sewn.

Overall, it remains in a darker state of color. The silhouette is almost straight and slightly tapered.

paper patch

It is stamped with the CARE stamp above the 501 part number. It's hard to tell from this alone if it was originally tear-off tagged or not.

sleek stamp

The specification is that of an early early 66 model, with washing instructions, part number, date of manufacture and factory number stamped on the rake. The shrinkage is listed as 8%, and the number ends with "2 3 6", indicating that it was made at the El Paso plant on February 6, 1973.

back pocket

Almost square back pocket. The arcuate stitch is evenly balanced on the left and right.

_back pocket (back)

The back of the pack pocket is single stitched, the same as the 66-single model.

red tab

BIG E's double-sided embroidery tabs." The width of the "V" is uneven on the left and right.　

top button

A button with a small pitter-patter between the letters.

front button

Except for the top button, there are three buttons.

fly button

It is not the button of the foot length R which is the feature of the BIG E model, but the button of the foot of the letter "R" is short with the popping between the letters like the previous model of 66. 66BIGE can be understood that it is the previous model of 66 which became BIG E only the red tab.

top button (back)

The engraving on the back of the top button is "6". Same as the numbers on the slake stamp.

rivet

It is made of plated iron to attach a magnet.

rivet (back)

The back of the rivet is made of aluminum.

coin pocket (back)

It is in chain stitch. It is a continuous specification from BIG E except for a part.

crotch

It has a bar tack to match the U-shaped stitching.

ouseam, selvedge

Due to damage to the hem at the time of purchase, the damaged area has been cut and hemmed up and is not original. The red ears have faded to pink.

outseam

The outseam is stitched with a single stitch on the BIG E and a chain stitch on this one from the early '66 onwards. Along with the fly button, the 66BIGE is one of the points that we can understand that the 66BIGE is only a tab BIGE and it is actually 66-single model.

fabric

The outseam is stitched with a single stitch on the BIG E and a chain stitch on this one from the 66-single onwards. Along with the fly button, the 66BIGE is one of the points that we can understand that the 66BIGE is only a tab BIGE and it is actually the early 66. You can feel a moderate slubby feeling, and you can feel a slight fluffiness near the hem. The nips are rarely seen.

size	waist	seat	front rise	back rise	thigh	inseam	opening	total length
W28/L33	27.5	40	10	13	10.5	28.5	7.5	38.5