There is really no way to estimate late serial numbered 38 Safety revolvers. Your Fifth Model could have shipped anywhere from the 1920s to the late 1930s. The last serial number issued for this model is reported to be 261,493. As you probably know, S&W did not send out guns in serial number order. After WWI, there were many solid frame models out there and the top-break revolvers became slow sellers, with large inventories. One in your range could well have languished for a decade or more before being sold. A factory letter would be the only way to get an accurate ship date.

Also, I think Peter dropped a number in his post, since a gun in the 24,000 range would have shipped in the 1880s.

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Gary
SWCA 2515