Vintage Levi's 646 Bell Bottom Details at Steel Zipper

Guide to Vintage Levi's 646 Bellbottoms

Levi's has produced many classic style of jeans through the years that are associated with different eras. The 1960' and 70's were a free wheeling anything goes era for the youth of America and Levi's 646 bellbottom jeans were part of the uniform that the 70s generation choose to represent their differences with previous generations. The 646 jeans were different in many ways from the classic straight leg 501 and peg legged looks that Levi's jeans had become associated with from previous generations. Levi's first introduced the 646 style denim bell bottom in 1966 as part of the orange tab line of products marketed to the younger generation of America. From 1966 to 1971 these jeans were manufactured with the big "E" appearing on the orange tab found on the rear left pocket. The orange tab being change to a little "e" in 1971. Levi's continued to manufacturer the 646 style until the early 80's with a little "e" tab. This style was removed from the Levi's line in the early 80's and later reproduced in 2006 as part of Levi's LVC collection. We have not encountered an authentic vintage pair that was manufactured after 1981.

The 646 bell bottom was produced as a denim jean , a corduroy pants, and a Sta-Prest Pants . The chart below contains information on various colors and finishes that we are aware that the 646 style was produced in. This style is identified by the long lean look with a moderate flared bottom. It only has 4 pockets as there is not a coin pocket. Additionally, the front pockets do not have rivets and the there is not a brown paper patch on rear that most Levi's up until this time period were identified with. A student version was also manufactured and marketed as a 746 model which was basically a skinnier waist and thigh proportioned to a smaller body frame in the 646 style. The size tag for these vintage Levi's is always found as a small style label printed on both sides which is found on the inside seam by the edge of the front pocket or on early Big E versions the tag information is usually stamped onto the inside front pocket with permanent ink. The tag is never located at the inside waist line. The Levi's flag on the back pocket is orange with black letters for denim jeans, white with black letters for cords, and black with gold letters for Sta-Prest pants. The front button is always a copper color finish. The Hallmark number stamped on the reverse of the top button for vintage Levi's 646 bellbottoms is usually a one or two digit number, with a few 3 digit hallmarks appearing shortly before this style was retired. Levi's 646 bell bottoms were known to made with the following zippers: Talon 42 zipper, Scovill Gardlock Zipper, and Scovill Zipper.

As always we welcome your contributions to add additional information to the chart below, please e-mail us additional pictures and styles of Vintage Levi's 646 bellbottoms.

Photo	Style		Type	Color	Material Content
	346-1512		Corduroy, Childs	Light Blue (sky or Powder Blue)
	40646-0213		Denim Jeans, Prewashed	Blue	64% cotton, 36% polyester
	646-0216	Orange Tab	Denim Jeans, Rigid, Rinsed	Blue
	646-0217	Orange Tab	Denim Jeans, Rigid Indigo Dye	Blue	100% content with 3% shrinkage
	646-0517	Orange Tab	Denim Jeans, Super Heavy Denim	Blue
	646-0917	Orange Tab	Denim Jeans, Indigo Dye	Blue	64% cotton, 36% polyester with no shrinkage
	40646-0913		Denim Jeans	Blue
	646-1026	Big E White Tab Only	Pants	Striped, Golden Mustard Yellow, Brick Red, and Dark Brown	100% Cotton Sanforized
	646-1512	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Light Blue (Sky or Powder Blue)	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1515	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Turquoise Blue Green	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1517	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Navy	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1523	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Tan	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1528	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Dark Brown / Chocolate	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1529	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Light Brown	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1532	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Dark Forest / Hunter Green	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1535	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Green	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1555	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Grey	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1572	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Peach / Coral	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1583	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Wine / Burgundy	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1584	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Rust (Burnt Orange)	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1586	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Purple	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1587	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Red	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1588	White Tab	Corduroy, Durawale Plus	Brown	84% cotton, 16% polyester (with 3% shrinkage)
	646-1918	Black Tab	Denim Jeans, Durango Bell	Blue	50% cotton, 50% Dacron polyester, never needs ironing
	646-3016	Big E White Tab Only		Striped: Blue, White, Red & Gold	100% cotton
	646-4415	?	Sta-Prest	Light Blue	?
	646-4421	Big E Black Tab Only	Sta-Prest	Gold
	646-4427	Black Tab Only	Sta-Prest	Brown	?
	646-4451	Big E Black Tab Only	Sta-Prest	White
	646-4452		Sta-Prest	Cream	50% cotton, 50% Dacron polyester
	646-4484	Big E Black Tab Only	Sta-Prest	Red	?
	646-4518		Denim	Blue	75% Cotton, 25% Polyester
	746-0317	?	Student Denim Jeans	Blue	100% cotton
	746-0613		Student Rinsed Denim	Blue	64% Cotton, 26% Polyester
	746-8117	?	Student Denim Jeans, 10-12 oz. denim	Blue	65% Dacron Polyester, 35% Cotton
	746-2913	?	Student Denim Jeans	Blue	?