An open end slide fastener comprises a pair of stringer tapes each carrying along one longitudinal edge a row of coupling elements and a pair of end stop lugs, each of the coupling elements including a pair of spaced legs and a coupling head extending therebetween. The coupling head has a pair of lateral projections extending longitudinally of the row of coupling elements beyond the width of the legs. The interengaged lateral projections of the coupling heads of the opposed endmost coupling elements located next to the top end stop lugs are cut off to permit the endmost coupling elements to be disengaged from each other when the fastener is closed. The legs of one endmost coupling element are partly cut off to define a slot extending transversely of the rows of coupling elements, permitting the endmost coupling elements to move unobstructedly toward and away from each other.
