Snake Charmer (shotgun)

Snake Charmer
H. Koon “Snake Charmer” advertisement.
Type Shotgun
Place of origin United States
Production history
Designer Homer Koon
Designed 1970s
Manufacturer
  • H.Koon, Inc
  • Sporting Arms Mfg
  • V.B.E Inc
  • Verney Carron
Produced 1978 to 2009
Variants
  • Snake Charmer II
  • Night Charmer
  • Field Gun
Specifications
Weight 3 1/2 pounds
Length 28 1/8 inches
Barrel length 18 1/8 inches
Cartridge .410 gauge
Action break-action
Feed system single shot
Sights none

The Snake Charmer is a .410 gauge, 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 under a car seat.[1] They may also be easily dissembled 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 gauge 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 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. Imported ones would have the importer (Kebco LLC) marked on them.

Additional

Snake Charmer or Snake Tamer type shotguns are also made by Rossi as well as Harrington and Richardson.[6]

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 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 gauge shotgun shells. It also, has ejectors that automatically expel spent shells.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Field & Stream. News for 1979 Part II. by Bob Brister. May 1979. page 159
  2. ↑ 39th Edition Blue Book of Gun Values. S. P. Fjestad. Blue Book Publications, 2018, ISBN 978-1936120321
  3. ↑ "NIGHT CHARMER conversion kits for the Snake Charmer 410 shotgun". AR15.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "TINCANBANDIT's Gunsmithing: Featured Gun: The Snake Charmer Shotgun". Tincanbandit.blogspot.com. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Charming Snakes with Lead". Nylonrifles.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
External media
Images
Pictures of Snake Charmer]
Video
Video of Snake Charmer 410 shotgun. BATJAC J.W
Video of a Rossi Snake Charmer vs a Copperhead
Video of Collapsible Shotgun 410 / 45 colt / 12 Ga. NEF Survivor Tamer
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