Who buys old Lee jeans and jackets? Sell vintage Lee to people who read the tag before the price.
From any state · free video appraisal · paid before you ship
California Vintage Buyers buys vintage Lee jeans, jackets and workwear from every state: Lee Riders, 101 cowboy pants, 101-J jackets, Storm Riders and Union-Alls. Text photos for a free video appraisal, agree the price on the call, and get paid before you ship, with shipping on us. In Southern California we come to you and pay cash. Call or text (949) 449-1255.
Lee gets less attention than Levi’s, which is exactly why old Lee is still found in closets and barns. Through the 1930s and 1940s Lee was one of the biggest workwear names in the country, and the pieces from those years have collectors here, in Europe and in Japan. Most later Lee is worth modest money. A small set of early pieces is worth a great deal, and the tag tells you which you have.
You do not need to work it out first. Text a photo of the tag at the back of the waistband or inside the collar, one of the whole piece, and one of the zipper or buttons, and a real buyer will tell you what it is and what we would pay, usually the same day.
The old Lee we look for
Lee Riders and 101 jeans
The cowboy pant Lee introduced in the mid-1920s, and the zip-fly 101Z. Pairs from the 1950s and 1960s with the black and gold tag are the ones we see most.
Text us a photo Send us a photo101-J jackets
Lee’s trim rider jacket. Older labels and denser denim are what move it up.
Text us a photo Send us a photoStorm Riders
The 101-J with a blanket lining and a corduroy collar, made for ranch work in real weather.
Text us a photo Send us a photoHair-on-hide patch pieces
A leather patch with actual cowhide hair on it dates a Lee piece from the mid-1930s to the mid-1940s, the most valuable era. Photograph it before you do anything else.
Text us a photo Send us a photoUnion-Alls and early workwear
The one-piece coverall Lee introduced in 1913, plus carpenter pants, chore jackets and overalls with a Union Made tag.
Text us a photo Send us a photoWhole work wardrobes
The closet that holds old Lee usually holds old Levi’s, Wrangler and Carhartt too. We buy it together in one call.
Text us a photo Send us a photoRead the tag, then text us
Four details date most Lee in a minute. A leather patch with hair on it means the mid-1930s to the mid-1940s. The name Storm Rider on a lined jacket means 1953 or later, when Lee first used it. The words Union Made on the tag mean before about the mid-1970s. A separate care instructions label sewn inside means after the early 1970s. Do not wash the piece and do not cut off a tag that is hanging by a thread; a worn tag that is still attached is worth more than a clean garment without one. From any state it all happens by photos and a video call, and payment arrives through PayPal before you ship. In Southern California, house calls are free, and our warehouse at 23011 Moulton Pkwy, Suite G-11, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 sees sellers by appointment.
What vintage Lee brings
Ranges we would pay against or expect at auction, as published in our Lee and Wrangler value guide. Size, condition and originality move every one.
| Piece | Typical range |
|---|---|
| 1980s and 1990s Lee jeans and jackets | $20 to $75 |
| Worn 1970s and 1980s Lee Riders jeans | $30 to $100 |
| 1970s and 1980s Storm Rider jackets | $75 to $250 |
| 1950s and 1960s Storm Rider jackets | About $200 to $600 |
| Union-Alls from the 1940s onward | $50 to $200 |
| 1930s Lee with the hair-on-hide patch | Can bring several thousand dollars; read one at a time |
California Vintage Buyers, vintage Lee and Wrangler value guide
A Recent Find
A 1940s Levi’s Type 1 jacket, sold to us by a former dealer who knew exactly what he had. We paid $12,000 in cash, the same day.
How it works
Text us photos.
Send shots of the piece, the tags, and the buttons to (949) 449-1255. A real buyer answers the same day.
Video call, price agreed.
Ten minutes on FaceTime or whatever you already use. We agree the number while the piece is in your hands.
Paid before you ship.
The PayPal payment lands before you pack a box, and shipping is on us. In Southern California we can come to you and pay cash instead.
Common questions
Who buys old Lee jeans?
California Vintage Buyers does, from every state. Text photos of the tag, the whole pair and the zipper to (949) 449-1255, agree the price on a free video call, and get paid through PayPal before you ship, with shipping on us. In Southern California we come to you and pay cash.
Are old Lee jeans worth anything?
Some are. Lee from the 1980s and 1990s usually brings $20 to $75, and worn 1970s and 1980s Lee Riders $30 to $100. Pieces from the 1950s and 1960s bring more, and 1930s Lee with a hair-on-hide leather patch can bring several thousand dollars. The tag decides it.
How do I tell how old my Lee jacket is?
Read the tag. A leather patch with hair on it means the mid-1930s to mid-1940s. Union Made on the tag generally means before the mid-1970s, and a separate care label inside means after the early 1970s. Our Lee dating guide shows each tag.
What is a Lee Storm Rider worth?
Storm Riders from the 1970s and 1980s are common and usually bring $75 to $250 depending on the lining and condition. Examples from the 1950s and 1960s, with older labels and denser denim, run roughly $200 to $600.
Is Lee worth as much as Levi’s?
Usually less for the same year, because more collectors chase Levi’s. The exceptions are the early pieces: pre-war Lee jackets and jeans are rare, and the right one is worth as much as a comparable Levi’s. That is the reason to have old Lee looked at before it is donated.
Do I have to ship my Lee before I get paid?
No. We agree the price on a video call and pay through PayPal before you ship, and we send a prepaid label. If your piece would bring more sold another way, we will say so.
Should I wash old Lee jeans before selling them?
No. Washing fades denim that collectors want dark and can destroy an old tag. Leave the piece exactly as you found it, dirt included, until someone has looked.
Know what it’s worth before you sell.
Our field guides explain how the market actually prices these things. No fishing, no hype: real ranges and the details that move them.
One call. We’ll take it
from there.
(949) 449-12555.0 on Google · Free video appraisal · Paid before you ship, shipping on us
Mon-Sat 6 am-8 pm · Sun 8 am-5 pm
A real person answers seven days a week, weekends included. Photos sent today are usually answered the same day.
Or send your photos online Photos on your phone? Text them to (949) 449-1255
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