M1884/98 III (E. und F. Hörster, produced-1938) Karabiner 98K bayonet

[ColonelKlink1942]

Hey gang,

Here is another M1884/98 III that I picked up. The maker's mark on one side of the Ricasso reads "E. u. F. Hörster" and on the other side is the serial number "5099 over e". There is a "38" stamp on the spine for the production year. There is a WaA stamp near the tang but ahead of the mortise slot but is covered by the flash guard. There appears to be another WaA stamp on the flash guard and looks like it reads "WaA253" though it's rather small, please confirm or correct this. This bayonet also has what looks like plastic grips, which should be pre-1943. Unfortunately, the blade has been sharpened, likely by a civilian or a farmer, but the tip is still nice and pointy.

Overall, it's a very nice bayonet in a nicer shape than the 1936 variant I posted about earlier. Photos below: