OK, I got one!
I'm cleaning a friend's S&W Bodyguard 38 in alloy (a model 38), SN J386xx, says "mod-38" under the crane, text on the right front frame area says "Made in USA" and "Springfield, MASS". Grips are round-butt, wood and match the frame's SN.
It's in perfect mechanical shape but has suffered some storage rust on the cylinder
taking it out of the "collector" category. No deep pitting, nothing that hurts function but it does have some remaining "roughness". It will make him a fine defensive piece (avoiding +P ammo of course!).
He has the box and all papers, too, even the grease paper inside the box! Damn.
Any idea year of make and value if it was mint?