image via L.L. Bean Details From L. L. Bean’s Website: “Our Katahdin Iron Works Engineer Boots are painstakingly handcrafted from durable oiled-leather upper that gains more character with every wear. Why We Love Them These rugged boots were first developed by our founder, Leon Leonwood Bean, “for Civil Engineers, Contractors and general outdoor workers where the best, as well as the most comfortable, shoes are required.” Katahdin Iron Works Located in the north woods of Maine, adjacent to the Appalachian Trail, Katahdin Iron Works was built in 1843 and operated until 1890, when advances in steel manufacturing made it obsolete.