My own 1954 era Franz Sodia 16/16-8x57IRS has a whiteline recoil pad( the style, at the time), since Dave observed that the leather is "proud" of the wood, I opine it was added later to cover up an older whiteline pad. When I can get to the vault, I will check the front sight of mine for a screw. For whatever it's worth, I like mine so much that if I was told I had to kill a deer this afternoon or the world would blowup; I would choose the Sodia to do it. It is possible the recoil pad is "factory", but highly unlikely. It is likely the pad is an aftermarket addition, earlier than the leather covering. As always, I may be wrong.
Mike
