It is certainly possible that .38 Super (or .38 ACP) cartridges could have been used in one of the early Colts. My experience has been that some brands of .38 Super ammunition can be chambered in some .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers. But not all brands in all revolvers. As the .38 Super cartridge has a semi-rim, that is enough to provide adequate headspace. Even though the .38 Super bullet is slightly undersize, the cartridge performs OK in .38 Special and .357 revolvers, provided it will fit into the chamber. I'd think that most revolver barrels would not split from using an overpressured cartridge unless there was some bore obstruction or metal defect. The barrel-cylinder gap will normally provide enough pressure venting to prevent that from happening.

Most believe that a .38 S&W cartridge has a diameter too large to fit into a .38 Special chamber. But that is also not necessarily true. Some brands will definitely chamber in some revolvers.