The Snake Charmer is a .410 bore, stainless steel, single shot, break-action shotgun, with an exposed hammer, an 18 1/8 inch barrel, black molded plastic furniture and a short thumb-hole butt-stock that holds four additional 2 1/2 shotgun shells. These light weight 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.
. . . Snake Charmer (shotgun) . . .
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.
. . . Snake Charmer (shotgun) . . .