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.

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 or Snake Tamer type shotguns are also made by Rossi as well as Harrington and Richardson.^[7]

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.

• .410 bore
• Garden guns
• Gauge (firearms)
• Kit gun
• Snake shot
• Snake Slayer