gistfile1.txt

# need to fix a corrupted repo because I have a local branch I need to recover

# first, backup the corrupted git repo

# get a fresh clone
$ git clone git://mydomain.local/awesomerepo.git; cd awesomerepo
$ mv .git/objects/pack/*.pack /tmp/.
$ git unpack-objects < /tmp/*.pack # unpack all the git objects.
                                   # you need to move the pack file out of the 
                                   # git repo. See git-unpack-objects's man page:
                                   #   "Objects that already exist in the repository 
                                   #    will not be unpacked from the pack-file. Therefore,
                                   #    nothing will be unpacked if you use this command 
                                   #    on a pack-file that exists within the target
                                   #    repository."

# locate the corrupt object in the clean, cloned repo and copy it into the corrupt repo
$ cp -f .git/objects/cc/6df31dfbc5231441c4b815975d576420517d8a ../awesomerepo_corrupt/.git/objects/cc/.

# hat tip to frogonwheels and rohanpm on #git on irc.freenode.net for helping me out.