Fake 501 STFs?

[bustinxjustin]

I know some of you are Levi's experts so I just wanted to ask if the Levi's 501 STF's I just bought are fake.

I picked them up and I noticed that the pair that I got were a little different than the other ones that I usually see. The back pocket label that they had on the jeans looked different than what the tag usually looks like and it says "1993 LS & Co." on the bottom. Here's a list of the main differences from the 501 STF's I usually see that I found on my pair:

1. Back tag had "501xx" as opposed to mostly "501" or sometimes "501XX" on the other pairs

2. Back pockets were smaller and had less curvature in the arcuates

3. No stamp on the back of the left pocket bag

4. No small tag on the insde of the back of the jeans that usually says something like 100% Cotton and where they are made

5. Only one color stitching as opposed to the two colors that I usually see

The pair that I got says "Made in the U.S.A." on the tag, so that is why they might be different. Maybe they are different because they were made in 1993. Or maybe it's because of both factors. If anybody could help me out, then I'd really appreciate it. I took some pictures to help with what I'm trying to describe. Thanks for your help.

[bustinxjustin]

Over 100 views and no replies? Can somebody help me out here please? Thanks!

[Charlie Delta]

Compared them just now with the pair I bought last week in an official Levis factory outlet, they are definitely different.

- Pocketflasher looks completely different for one,

- pleather patch looks off, also can't see if it has perforation to rip off the right part on your pics

- inside tag different and also different placement from mine

- shallower arcuates

- my red tab has more red on top and bottom, letters appear to be bigger on yours

- mine say 501© instead of your 501xx

And these are just the main details.

My question to you is, why did you buy 1993 STF's? Thrifting? Ebay?

Next time buy them at an official Levi's retailer, you can be sure that they're real and will only cost you 46 bucks.

[bustinxjustin]

Thanks for the help Cotton Duck. I wasn't thrifting, I bought these at Sears (forgot to mention that earlier). I decided to pick them up because they were different than the ones I usually see and was intrigued by that. I also heard that STFs that were made in the US were harder to find, so that made them more interesting to me.

I also didn't think that Sears would be selling fake jeans, unless somebody bought a fake pair of STFs and then exchanged them at the Sears for a real pair. So I decided to scoop them up and post here to see if they were real. If they aren't, then it's no big deal. Back to Sears they go for a refund!

So if anybody else can shed some light on this I'd really appreciate it. Thanks again.

[rnrswitch]

These jeans are from the mid 90s, when the arcs were a bit more shallow. The jeans were made in the USA... I don't know where, but I wore STF levis all through the 90s and these are far better in quality to the new ones made in Mexico. These pop up sometimes in Sears or Mervyns and can be quite a catch if you get them for about $30. I remember when Levis changed one year to the deeper arcs (2001 or 2002 I believe) and I thought they looked cheap. Turns out they were and that was when they moved production to Mexico, Guatamala, etc.

[bustinxjustin]

Thanks for your help rnrswitch. So I guess the STFs made in the mid 90s in the US didn't have the stamp that says "This is a pair of Levi's" on the inside of the left pocket bag then? That was my main concern when I was buying these.

[Paul T]

No they didn't. These are old stock, like I used to buy from Canal jeans for $19. Some of the details like the stock control tag are great. More 'carrot' shaped than the current model, with smaller pockets. The last US-made STF AFAIK.

[bustinxjustin]

Awesome! Looks like I found something pretty cool. Thanks for all your help guys!

[pepso]

I don't want to open new thread, these "STFs" are really strange:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NWT-LEVIS-ORIGINAL-501-SHRINK-TO-FIT-DENIM-JEANS-34X33_W0QQitemZ120317971818QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120317971818&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[selaviso]

I don't want to open new thread, these "STFs" are really strange:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NWT-LEVIS-ORIGINAL-501-SHRINK-TO-FIT-DENIM-JEANS-34X33_W0QQitemZ120317971818QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120317971818&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

be safe and go to a department store and get em there.

[meader]

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