FREEPORT – L.L. Bean Inc. says its decision to shift the manufacturing of the rubber soles for its signature Maine Hunting Shoe to its home state is about quality control – and pride.

It’s a little-known fact that the outdoors outfitter has been outsourcing the soles of its best-known product to out-of-state suppliers. Currently, they’re made in Arkansas, then shipped to the Bean factory in Brunswick to be joined with the leather uppers.

L.L. Bean is buying about $1 million worth of equipment to make the soles and expects to sign a lease soon for space to house a manufacturing operation that will employ eight to 10 shoemakers.

The shift, which is expected to take effect this fall, bucks a decades-long trend of manufacturing jobs leaving Maine.

Having the rubber sole shop in Maine will give Bean a higher level of quality control than it has over the Arkansas contract operation, said Carolyn Beem, manager of public affairs. She said pride also was a factor.

“It means a lot to us” to make the boots in Maine, Beem said. “It is a signature product for us, so we have always been protective of the quality. It has also become a signature product for the state.”

The boot’s design is essentially the same as it was in 1912, when L.L. Bean made the first pairs in the basement of his brother’s apparel shop. Company lore has it that Bean sold 100 pairs of boots that first year, but 90 were returned after the soles separated from the uppers. Bean made refunds and corrected the problem.

The company’s top officials made the decision about the manufacturing change in November and shared the news with employees a few weeks ago.

“They are extremely excited,” said Jack Samson, who heads up Bean’s manufacturing division in Brunswick. “The fact that the soles are going to be made by L.L. Bean employees, that is the best part. To see jobs come back to Maine, to see a heritage product like this come back, is incredible.”