My thoughts mirror GunGeek's. I'll only add that, to me, the Police Positives in .38 Special should be avoided if stiff loads are in the offing. Later ones will certainly handle them but overall you'll be less comfy shooting it a lot than you will an Officers Model, New Army, or an Official Police. If contemplating a New Army (predecessor of the Official Police) make sure it was made post-1920 as Colt changed their metallurgy at that point thus making them a fair bit stronger. (Serial number charts are out there on the internet.)
