Boyt Acquires Gokey

By Tom Sternal

For 170 years Gokey has been producing footwear of timeless quality—for the past 25 years under the ownership of The Orvis Company, headquartered in Manchester, Vermont. Now Boyt Harness Company of Osceola, Iowa, has purchased the iconic brand. In the early days manufacturing was based in Rathbonville, New York, where Noah Gokey led the first company to combine Native American moccasin-style construction with a hard sole. It is a trait to which all modern hunting boots can trace their lineage.

These days the Gokey factory is located in Tipton, Missouri, where leather hunting boots and shoes are hand-stitched by craftsmen. The attention to detail aligns well with Boyt’s manufacturing philosophies. According to Boyt President Tony Caligiuri: “The acquisition of Gokey is an absolute perfect fit for Boyt. We hope to use our manufacturing and marketing experience in the hunting field to build on everything they have accomplished under the Orvis umbrella, and we look forward to Orvis continuing on as a key Gokey customer.”

Founded in 1901, Boyt is the industry’s oldest, continually operating maker of firearms accessories. In addition to its own brand, the company owns and operates The Outdoor Connection, Bob Allen, Mud River Dog Products and Rattlers and is the exclusive distributor for Kryptek hunting apparel.