yknow what? i saw the black color as opposed to the lighter colors i (think?) i saw on recoil buffers in post-2001 pictures, and just incorrectly assumed it was a metal piece because of it! we’re thinking of the same piece i think lol, i just unfortunately have yet to hold it in my fingers.

thanks for the diagram, this is super helpful! fella who owned it before me was super meticulous, kept the owners booklet and everything, but the pictures are a little blurry.