Rancourt and Company
Rancourt & Company is a US-based shoe manufacturer owned by Michael Rancourt. The company was formerly owned by Allen Edmonds, until it was bought back by its previous owners, the Rancourt family. Their website claims that their history in the shoemaking business goes back to 1964.
Rancourt makes primarily made-to-order handsewn shoes and boots. This includes boat shoes, camp-mocs, penny loafers, venetian loafers, tassel loafers, ranger mocs, and both moc-toe and plain-toe boots and chukkas. They offer a variety of leathers at different prices, including many Horween options, including the popular Chromexcel and Shell Cordovan.
If you order by email, you can specify a different color or type of leather for any given style, or a different sole. Officially there is supposed to be an online customization tool coming soon, but when that is is uncertain.
Rancourt has one of the most helpful and comprehensive websites of any made in USA brand. Kyle Rancourt has also done an AMA on Reddit.
Rancourt makes handsewns for Red Wing Handsewn, Eastland Made in Maine, and a few other brands.
Club Monaco carries a small selection of Rancourt shoes, and Need Supply currently carries two styles (as of 26/05/2013).
All of their shoes are made in Lewiston, Maine.
Contents
Subjective: Style and Quality
The style of Rancourt & Company's shoes can easily work with a menswear style or a heritage style, but a conservative choice of handsewn, like a brown boat shoe or a black penny loafer, can bring accusations of "dadcore". On the bright side, their shoes might make an excellent gift for your dad.
The quality of construction is very good and the fit is generally true-to-size. You can email them for information about sizing relative to some other brands; their history with Allen Edmonds means they have a good sense of how their lasts compare to Allen Edmonds lasts, so if you know your size in Allen Edmonds you should know your size in Rancourt.
When choosing a leather, this editor recommends the standard choice, Chromexcel. This is the second most famous of Horween's leathers (behind the considerably more expensive Shell Cordovan). It is commonly used for handsewn shoes.
The /fa/ Opinion
Rancourt & Co. is not unheard of on /fa/, but it is seldom talked about or worn by posters. When I have seen their penny loafers posted, they are sometimes called dadcore, but not always. Opinions are mixed but mostly pretty neutral. A small handful of posters are fans.
Comparable Brands
Quoddy, Oak Street Bootmakers and Yuketen all make comparable shoes using similar materials and construction techniques.
