The 38 Colt Special is the same cartridge as the standard 38 Special cartridge. It was introduced in 1909 at the request from Colt so that they could use it for their handguns without using the S&W of their rival. Colt claimed that the flat nosed bullet provided more stopping power than the standard round nosed cartridge. Remington still loaded the cartridges for them up to 1955. (Erlmeier, Brandt Ref. 356)