The guide rod area is left empty. It is set back pretty far on the real one, so it isn't noticeable. I'll try to upload a pic soon.Hi Justinian, if you could show pics of the front end of the barrel or the gun,so the shooting end? I’m not sure how the guide rod bit should look which is under the barrel. Yeah I’m sure the sti pistol will be more expensive then the one you bought, so no worries!