Significance of The Krag Rifle

Ondrej owned an expensive German Krag rifle early in the story. He says it helps him "feel in control of his destiny"—however, it is the Krag that leads Ondrej into trouble in Pennsylvania. Jozef and Zlee learn how to shoot on the Krag rifle, a path which leads them into an elite sniper unit in the Austrian army. In the end of the story, after Jozef has loved and lost and seen so many awful things, he sells the rifle to help pay for his passage to America.