The Snake Charmer is a .410 bore, stainless steel, single-shot, break-action shotgun, with an exposed hammer, an 18-1/8" barrel, black molded plastic stock and forend (aka "furniture"), and a short thumb-hole butt-stock that holds four additional 2-1/2" shotgun shells. These lightweight 3-1/2 pound guns have an overall length of 28-1/8 inches and will easily fit on the saddle of a horse.[1] They may also be easily disassembled for "storage in a back-pack or large tackle box." They are commonly used by gardeners and farmers for pest control. The term "Snake Charmer" would go on to become synonymous with any small, short-barreled, single-shot, .410 shotgun.
History
The Snake Charmer was introduced in 1978, by H.Koon, Inc., of Dallas, Texas.[1][2] It originally sold for $89.95[2] and was marketed as a general-purpose utility shotgun perfect for "Fishing - Hunting - Camping - Back Packing - Survival - Home Defense - Truck or Jeep Gun."
Koons would sell the company to Sporting Arms Mfg, of Littlefield, Texas. They added a manual safety switch which blocked the hammer when engaged and re-brand it as the Snake Charmer II. Sporting Arms would introduce the Night Charmer (disc. 1988) which featured a flashlight built into the fore-stock.[3] This flashlight equipped fore-stock was also available as an option and sold separately.[4] Sporting Arms would also introduce a larger version, the Field Gun which featured a full length stock and a 24-inch barrel.[5]
The design was later sold to V.B.E, Inc, of Clay Center, Kansas. They were later made by Verney-Carron.[6] Imported ones would have the importer (Kebco LLC) marked on them.
The Rossi Tuffy is a single-shot .410-bore shotgun. It features half-length thumb-hole polymer stock that holds four additional shot-shells and strongly resembles the original Snake Charmer. Unlike its predecessor, it has ejectors that automatically expel spent shells.
The H&R Snake Tamer is also a Snake Charmer like shotgun. Available in 20-gauge or .410-bore/.45 Colt only. These single-shot guns have either a blued finish or an electroless nickel finish with a full-length thumb-hole polymer stock. The right side of the stock is open with storage for three 20-gauge or four .410-bore shotgun shells. It also has ejectors that automatically expel spent shells.
