After a chance meeting with a local family and seeing the photo of their grandfather, they begged me to sell them a Krag rifle. In the portrait, his rifle is clearly a model 1896.

Private Michael Erban enlisted at Appleton Wisconsin in April 1898 and served in Company B, 2nd WI Infantry (1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps) from April 28, 1898 to Sept 18, 1898 when he was Wounded in Action in Puerto Rico.

I gritted my teeth and sold a spare model 1896 with with a matching bayonet from my collection. The rifle now has a wonderful display with grandpa Erban's flag and photo in his grandsons home. The rifle is taken to the range and fired regularly. Sometimes you just have to share the collection. 

That was a wonderful thing you did there!  You've given more than a rifle away... you've given them a dream, and a lifetime of amazing memories yet to be shared!  Sometimes that is more rewarding than a collection...

Bless you brother!