Historical Profile: Frank Novotny
Active Period: Late 1870s to the 1930s. Records from FamilySearch indicate he was born in Bohemia in 1852 and established his gunsmithing business in St. Paul following his marriage there in 1877.
Reputation: He was arguably the most notable gunsmith in the Twin Cities during the 1890s and was known for high-quality custom work.
Innovations: Novotny is specifically recognized for his work on single triggers and ejector systems.
Connection to Parker Shotguns
Collectors on the PGCA Forums have highlighted Novotny's role in customizing high-grade Parker guns.
Gun #79051: A notable BH-Grade Parker (made in 1893) features a single trigger and ejectors of "unknown origin." Forum experts suggest that Novotny is a strong candidate for this custom work, as the gun’s owner at the time, J.P. Dean, lived in the Twin Cities.
Custom Shop: There are historical mentions of Parker Bros. shipping guns directly to Novotny for custom modifications, suggesting he held a specialized status that the factory respected.
Novotny's Patent: Some guns modified by him carry markings or patents associated with his specific single trigger design, which was a sought-after upgrade before such features became standard factory options.
Business Location
In the 1900 Federal Census, he was listed as a "gunsmith and proprietor of guns" in St. Paul, Ramsey County. His shop served the affluent sportsmen of the era who desired European-style refinements on American-made shotguns.
Would you like me to see if I can find the specific patent details for his single trigger or any additional information on J.P. Dean?
Frank Novotny held a specific patent for his single trigger mechanism, which was a notable advancement in shotgun technology during the early 20th century.
Patent Details
Patent Number: 1,268,760.
Issue Date: June 4, 1918.
Function: This patent covered a specific single trigger design for double-barreled shotguns.
Context: In the timeline of single-trigger development, Novotny’s design followed other major innovations like those by J.A.R. Elliott (1902) and Fulford (1902, 1904), but preceded factory-standard options like the Parker Single Trigger, which wasn't cataloged until 1923.
Historical Significance
Novotny’s work is particularly prized by collectors of high-grade American firearms because he was one of the few master gunsmiths trusted to perform these complex conversions on premium guns like Parkers. His shop in St. Paul served as a regional hub for custom modifications that often exceeded factory standards of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
About J.P. Dean
The original owner of the famous BH-Grade Parker (#79051) associated with Novotny’s work was J.P. Dean of the Twin Cities.
The Gun: Built in 1893, this shotgun is a key example of early custom work, featuring a single trigger and ejectors of "unknown origin" that experts believe are the work of Novotny.
Local Ties: Because Dean was a prominent resident of the Twin Cities, it is highly probable he utilized the most notable local master gunsmith, Novotny, for these high-end modifications.
Would you like me to see if I can find more biographical details on J.P. Dean’s status in St. Paul or additional information on other gunsmiths in the Novotny family?
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