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I know that when some English rifles and shotguns came out of India they had small identification numbers stamped into the stocks. For example,some guns that belonged to the Nizam of Hyderabad were stamped "EXP" with a number stamped in the stock.
I was looking at a 1902 Webley .450 nitro express that has the following numbers stamped in the stock: 14 with 323 stamped below the 14. I would like to find out if this rifle did indeed come from India and what the 14 over 323 stamp means. I was told that the numbers were stamped on the stocks by a government official when the gun was sold to a buyer outside India. I think that the numbers tell what part of India that the gun came from.
Thanks for your help.

Sounds like an interesting gun. I'm no help on the numbers but I am currently restoring one that I rebarreled to .500 NE. I'll post some pictures in the single barrel forum as things progress.

I took a look at a H&H 8 bore Paradox that I have and it has
stamped on the bottom of the stock behind the pistol grip a
5 over 906. I have now seen this type of stamping at least ten
times on guns coming out of India. The stamp size and appearance of all of them are all the same. I also saw an article about a gun with the same number stamping that called the numbers a "registry". I would like to trace the guns that I own back to the original owner if possible. If I make any headway with it I will post it. I "think" that the top number would indicate the Indian state in which the gun owner lived.