Snakecharmer

A

atlctyslkr

New member
I got this old .410 shotgun from my grandfather. It's a break action single shot. It's got a pretty cheesy plasticy stock and grips. I has engraved on the side "Snakecharmer" I can only guess it's for snakes. Is this thing good for anything, worth anything? I am doubting very serious. I'm not even sure it works. I put a few shells in it and fired it and they didn't go off. Took them out and the primer was barely dented. I then dry fired it with my finger where the firing pin comes out and it feels very "weak". Just wondering if it is worth my time.
 
I saw one Years ago, sold new for $79.00

not hard to fix, replace the firing pin!

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The Snake Charmer was still listed in 2006. It's made by NEF (used to be H&R) depending on the model (caliber basically) it can sell for arond $140 to about $440 it's sure worth fixing.
 
Back when it first came out, the Snake Charmer was getting very poor reviews. Haven't heard anything about them in the last few years.
 
Snake Charmer II is no longer made by NEF/H&R... now made by Verney-Carron

http://www.verney-carron.us/

WalMarts near me have carried the Snake Charmer before, and the examples I've seen have been perfectly suited to their task - a short-range pest controller. Can't be used for too much more due to lack of sights and ungrooved receiver, unless you mount something to the stock or barrel. There are better .410s for clays, anyway... and that takes a LOT of skill, though when you see someone bust long strings of clays with a .410 it is VERY impressive. Almost like shooting the clay out of the air with a rifle...

WalMart can order them for about $140 or so... they accept 3" shells, and have that quirky shell-holder-in-stock thing which some seem to like and some to hate.

Overall, they seem like perfectly adequate guns for the price and purpose.
 
not hard to fix, replace the firing pin!
Click to expand...

actually i would guess the firing pin spring...probably weakened from being cocked for years. I don't have one, but always thought they were kinda neat, for pest control.
 
If my grandfather gave me a gun I would fix it and keep it to pass to my grandson...... should I be blessed with one someday.....

I'd fix it.
 
Fix it my grand father told me to buy at least 1 gun a year and they would be a good investment. At this point I have .I also inherited all of his guns. I have been offered a pretty hefty price for some of them but I intend to pass them plus mine to a grandchild until then I had a walk in safe installed in the basement of my new house and take them out and clean them and shoot some of em so my advice is to hang on to it if nothing else to remind you of him
 
I'm probably dating myself, but I remember in PISTOLERO magazine in the early '80s circa 1981 that Fat Phil and company tested the "Snakecharmer". During the test the roll pin that the barrel hinges on broke. They also felt that the gun was unsafe to care on a loaded chamber.

I wished I still had all those PISTOLERO magazines. Those guy were a hoot!
 
probably needs a new spring.send it someone that might fix it up and shoot it.they are great for close range pest control and a throw around out in the woods. A relative has one on his farm and uses it to keep the pigeons population iunder control. Aint pretty but works.

gunparts corp might have parts to fix it.
 
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