diff --git a/doc/forum/safely_dropping_git-annex_history/comment_9_f83d6090aea2b7d5d54c876df940cbad._comment b/doc/forum/safely_dropping_git-annex_history/comment_9_f83d6090aea2b7d5d54c876df940cbad._comment
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+[[!comment format=mdwn
+ username="https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawln3ckqKx0x_xDZMYwa9Q1bn4I06oWjkog"
+ nickname="Michael"
+ subject="git checkout --orphan"
+ date="2013-07-19T17:49:37Z"
+ content="""
+Instead of rebase, --orphan seems to be the right answer for pruning history: create a new git-annex orphan branch and git add and commit the files. So:
+<pre><code>
+
+git status 
+
+# verify there are no uncommitted or untracked files
+
+# master branch
+git branch -m old-master
+git checkout --orphan master
+git add .
+git commit -m 'first commit'
+
+# git annex branch
+git branch -m git-annex old-git-annex
+git checkout git-annex
+git checkout --orphan git-annex
+git add .
+git commit -m 'first commit'
+git checkout master
+
+# at this point, you may want to double-check that everything is still OK
+
+# finally, remove branches and clean up the objects:
+git branch -D old-master old-git-annex
+git reflog expire --expire=now --all
+git prune
+git gc
+
+</code></pre>
+
+The repo remains functional and .git is smaller.
+
+"""]]