Ed,
I am glad a good guy picked up that rifle - I had it before Erich did! It is one sweet feeling rig, to be sure.
I have had Brown's (only 3) both with and w/o cheekpieces and like them both. I am unable to dig up the contact info on the chap who put that rifle together, so I can't tell you what that cloth is, but I had the same question when I saw it. It is by far the most rigid stock I have held - that is for sure.
Enjoy!
