1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
Finally a full front and back view of this special pair.
If I can ever find denim in right- and left-hand versions similar in weight and appearance to the denim used on this pair, I'd love to make an exact replica.

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #1930s #snagproof #bucklebackjeans

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
The inside of the waistband is made of a beautiful lightweight blue cotton fabric, which is also quite unusual.

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #waistband #1930s #snagproof #bucklebackjeans

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
The watch pocket is attached to the pocket bag and facing with only a single row of stitches, but is thoroughly reinforced with a rivet on both sides.

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #1930s #snagproof #bucklebackjeans #watchpocket #uforivets

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
One indicator of the age of this pair is the numerous raw unfinished edges. The fly facing and fly shield are serged, but many of the other edges were left unfinished, such as the opening of the back pockets (pic 1), the watch pocket (pic 2), the front pocket facing (pic 3), the edge folded underneath the fly shield (pic 4), and the inside crotch (pic 5).

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #1930s #snagproof #bucklebackjeans #rawedges #unfinishededges

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
Another interesting and rare detail is that the fly shield and the fly facing are made of exactly the same pattern piece, serged the same way. After serging, half of the pieces went to the button holer and the other half were sewn on as fly shields.

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #1930s #snagproof #bucklebackjeans #flyshield #flyfacing

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
Another rare detail on this pair is the use of an exposed rivet and a bartack on the same back pocket.
To deal with the numerous complaints from customers about damage to car seats or furniture caused by the exposed rivets on the back pockets, Levi's famously introduced their patented concealed rivets in the mid-1930s. Other brands solved the problem in different ways; Lee used their characteristic X bartacks and Wrangler used smooth dome-shaped rivets that were less likely to scratch the furniture.
All brands, however, used the same solution on all four corners of the back pocket. This is what makes this Snag Proof model so unique.
Damage to furniture is almost exclusively due to the rivets on the inner corners of the back pockets. Snag Proof made the perfect compromise, retaining the exposed rivets on the outer corners for maximum strength, and adopting bartacks on the inner corners for non-scratch reinforcement.
This feature is one reason I believe this pair to be from the late 1930s, as it was likely introduced in response to Levi's concealed rivets.

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #rivets #exposedrivets #bartacks #1930s #snagproof #bucklebackjeans

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
The cinch buckle on this pair is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen! It's made of copper-plated iron, and therefore, as you can see in the last pic, sticks to a magnet.

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #buckleback #cinch #cinchbuckle #1930s #snagproof

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
Taking a look at the buttons. Incredibly, the chalk marking where to attach the fly buttons is still clearly visible after 80 years!
The fly buttons, top button, and suspender buttons are all unmarked "donut" buttons.
Various types of donut buttons exist, but these are my favorite type. The two-prong stud catches an S wire sitting in the base of the button to securely hold the button in place.
Both the studs and the buttons are made of iron, and therefore stick to a magnet as shown in the last pic.

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #donutbuttons #1930s #snagproof #buckleback #deadstock #newoldstock

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
As if this pair isn't rare enough as it is, after 80 years it still has the original inspector's slip hidden in the back corner!
I love the art deco type border design!

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #inspectorslip #artdeco #snagproof #buckleback #1930s

1930s Snag Proof buckle back jeans
Delving a bit deeper into the denim.
From the back side of the denim it is easier to distinguish between the left- and right-hand twill.
The back side of the denim is marked with a red stamp every half yard. As shown in pic 2, the same stamp is used on the left- and right-hand twill denim.
The stamp is almost illegible, but comparing the 10 instances of the stamp and adjusting the contrast, exposure, saturation etc as in pic 5, I am 90% certain that it reads as follows:

6 2/3 OZS.
KINGCOT
REGISTERED

6 2/3 oz is, of course, the old designation of ounce per yard (of 28" fabric), which translates into the current designation of a little over 8 oz per square yard. (Thanks to @denim_seeker for a great conversion table posted recently!)

#vintagejeans #vintagedenim #realvintage #deadstock #newoldstock #snagproof #buckleback #lefthandtwill #righthandtwill #1930s #ozpersquareyard #ozperyard #kingcot #kingcotdenim