Tac, pre January 1st 1919 manufacture date for handguns is for section 7.1 firearms that can be kept at home as part of a collection (There are other criteria but we are not talking about S7.1 Pistols)
Below is an excerpt for 7.3
"Exact application requirements vary by Police Administration although it is usual that an applicant is to apply for a specific pistol to be granted under s7(3), as opposed to a more open application for a class of firearm allowed with Section 1 applications. Such an application needs to demonstrate that the pistol, as part of a collection, can adequately fulfil any one of the following criteria:
Historical importance
Aesthetic quality (It is worth noting that there is precedent suggesting that a pistol manufactured after 16th October 1996 cannot be described as having adequate aesthetic quality to qualify)
Special technical interest
Particular rarity (i.e. very few were manufactured or survive)
There are no specific requirements that the pistol must be of a particular age or calibre, provided it fulfils the necessary criteria, indeed modern pistols are not ruled out if they are of historic importance."
There are S7.3 pistols for sale starting from £250 (Walther P1 9mm), there is currently a very nice Ruger Redhawk (Stainless model, 7.5" Barrel, Target sight) .44 magnum on sale at a dealer for £549.
So it is not going to cost you any more than a very good Ruger Old Army to get into S7.3 collecting & Studying
The main issue is that these would have to be transported via Section 5 courier from the dealer to the S7.3 club/range however if a sale takes place between S7.3 club members of the same club then the firearm stays within the club & no transportation issues.
It may not be ideal or appeal to everyones idea of firearms ownership but it is an option available to those who put a bit of effort in.
I curently have 2 Long Barrel Pistols (.22 (Semi Auto) & .357 (Revolver)) & 3 muzzle loading pistols (Ruger old Army .44, Cattleman (Nitro) in .44 & a Westlake Armscor (Nitro) in.38) I don't currently shoot S7.3 but members of my club do & it is something I am considering.
Of course alternatively you could join a club in Jersey, Northern Ireland or The Isle of Man where they still shoot pistols....But you would still have to leave your gun there!
Anyway sorry to the OP for steering this thread off course & I hope you do get into pistol ownership one way or another.