diff --git a/smolrouter/app.py b/smolrouter/app.py
index 4941b54..2db3028 100644
--- a/smolrouter/app.py
+++ b/smolrouter/app.py
@@ -2920,6 +2920,7 @@ def _timestamp_now_for_log(timestamp: Optional[datetime]) -> datetime:
     "identity_display_name",
     "original_model",
     "mapped_model",
+    "model_observation_status",
     "service_type",
     "status_code",
     "duration_ms",
@@ -2935,6 +2936,21 @@ def _serialize_request_log_provider_metadata(log_entry: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
     return serialize_request_metadata(log_entry, fields=REQUEST_LOG_METADATA_FIELDS)
 
 
+MODEL_OBSERVATION_NOT_INSPECTED_RATE_LIMIT = "not_inspected_rate_limit"
+
+
+def _derive_model_observation_status(log_entry: Any) -> str | None:
+    """Explain an absent model without mutating the persisted model fields."""
+
+    if (
+        getattr(log_entry, "upstream_url", None) == "rate-limiter"
+        and not getattr(log_entry, "original_model", None)
+        and not getattr(log_entry, "mapped_model", None)
+    ):
+        return MODEL_OBSERVATION_NOT_INSPECTED_RATE_LIMIT
+    return None
+
+
 def _serialize_request_log_summary(log_entry: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
     timestamp = getattr(log_entry, "timestamp", None)
     status_code = getattr(log_entry, "status_code", None)
@@ -2955,6 +2971,7 @@ def _serialize_request_log_summary(log_entry: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
         "service_type": getattr(log_entry, "service_type", None),
         "original_model": getattr(log_entry, "original_model", None),
         "mapped_model": getattr(log_entry, "mapped_model", None),
+        "model_observation_status": _derive_model_observation_status(log_entry),
         "duration_ms": duration_ms,
         "request_size": getattr(log_entry, "request_size", 0) or 0,
         "response_size": getattr(log_entry, "response_size", 0) or 0,
@@ -4070,6 +4087,7 @@ async def request_detail(request_id: str, request: Request):
             "request_detail.html",
             {
                 "log": log_entry,
+                "model_observation_status": _derive_model_observation_status(log_entry),
                 "request_identity": _get_request_identity(log_entry),
                 "elapsed_ms": elapsed_ms,
                 "request_body_str": getattr(log_entry, "request_body", b"").decode("utf-8")
diff --git a/smolrouter/templates/client_dashboard.html b/smolrouter/templates/client_dashboard.html
index c9feb1c..3b14bfb 100644
--- a/smolrouter/templates/client_dashboard.html
+++ b/smolrouter/templates/client_dashboard.html
@@ -201,7 +201,10 @@ <h2>Recent Requests for {{ client_ip }}</h2>
             return `<span class="status status-${category}">${statusCode}</span>`;
         }
 
-        function formatModel(originalModel, mappedModel) {
+        function formatModel(originalModel, mappedModel, observationStatus) {
+            if (observationStatus === 'not_inspected_rate_limit') {
+                return '<span style="font-size: 0.75rem; color: #666;">Not inspected (rate limited before body)</span>';
+            }
             if (mappedModel && mappedModel !== originalModel) {
                 return `
                     <div class="model-info">
@@ -400,7 +403,7 @@ <h2>Recent Requests for {{ client_ip }}</h2>
                     </td>
                     <td data-label="Project Identity">${renderProjectCell(log)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Path">${log.path || '-'}</td>
-                    <td data-label="Model">${formatModel(log.original_model, log.mapped_model)}</td>
+                    <td data-label="Model">${formatModel(log.original_model, log.mapped_model, log.model_observation_status)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Size">${formatSize(log.request_size)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Duration" class="duration">${formatDuration(log.duration_ms)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Status">${formatStatus(log.status_code)}</td>
@@ -548,7 +551,7 @@ <h2>Recent Requests for {{ client_ip }}</h2>
                 </td>
                 <td data-label="Project Identity">${renderProjectCell(request)}</td>
                 <td data-label="Path">${request.path || '-'}</td>
-                <td data-label="Model">${formatModel(request.original_model, request.mapped_model)}</td>
+                <td data-label="Model">${formatModel(request.original_model, request.mapped_model, request.model_observation_status)}</td>
                 <td data-label="Size">${formatSize(request.request_size)}</td>
                 <td data-label="Duration" class="duration">${formatDuration(request.duration_ms)}</td>
                 <td data-label="Status">${formatStatus(request.status_code)}</td>
@@ -582,7 +585,7 @@ <h2>Recent Requests for {{ client_ip }}</h2>
                         </td>
                         <td data-label="Project Identity">${renderProjectCell(request)}</td>
                         <td data-label="Path">${request.path || '-'}</td>
-                        <td data-label="Model">${formatModel(request.original_model, request.mapped_model)}</td>
+                        <td data-label="Model">${formatModel(request.original_model, request.mapped_model, request.model_observation_status)}</td>
                         <td data-label="Size">${formatSize(request.request_size)}</td>
                         <td data-label="Duration" class="duration">${formatDuration(request.duration_ms)}</td>
                         <td data-label="Status">${formatStatus(request.status_code)}</td>
diff --git a/smolrouter/templates/index.html b/smolrouter/templates/index.html
index a056d03..f107518 100644
--- a/smolrouter/templates/index.html
+++ b/smolrouter/templates/index.html
@@ -447,7 +447,10 @@ <h2>Recent Requests</h2>
             `;
         }
 
-        function formatModel(originalModel, mappedModel) {
+        function formatModel(originalModel, mappedModel, observationStatus) {
+            if (observationStatus === 'not_inspected_rate_limit') {
+                return '<span class="cell-secondary">Not inspected (rate limited before body)</span>';
+            }
             const resolvedOriginal = originalModel || mappedModel;
             const resolvedMapped = mappedModel || originalModel;
 
@@ -527,7 +530,7 @@ <h2>Recent Requests</h2>
                     <td data-label="Project Identity">${renderProjectCell(log)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Provider">${renderProviderCell(log)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Path">${escapeHtml(log.path || '-')}</td>
-                    <td data-label="Model">${formatModel(log.original_model, log.mapped_model)}</td>
+                    <td data-label="Model">${formatModel(log.original_model, log.mapped_model, log.model_observation_status)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Size">${formatSize(log.request_size)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Duration" class="duration">${formatDuration(log.duration_ms)}</td>
                     <td data-label="Status">${formatStatus(log.status_code)}</td>
diff --git a/smolrouter/templates/project_detail.html b/smolrouter/templates/project_detail.html
index 6911b5b..9dd87f0 100644
--- a/smolrouter/templates/project_detail.html
+++ b/smolrouter/templates/project_detail.html
@@ -187,7 +187,13 @@ <h2>Recent Facade-Key Requests</h2>
                             <td data-label="Time"><a href="/request/{{ log.id }}">{{ log.timestamp[:19] if log.timestamp else "-" }}</a></td>
                             <td data-label="Source">{{ log.source_ip }}</td>
                             <td data-label="Path">{{ log.path }}</td>
-                            <td data-label="Model">{{ log.mapped_model or log.original_model or "-" }}</td>
+                            <td data-label="Model">
+                                {% if log.model_observation_status == "not_inspected_rate_limit" %}
+                                Not inspected (rate limited before body)
+                                {% else %}
+                                {{ log.mapped_model or log.original_model or "-" }}
+                                {% endif %}
+                            </td>
                             <td data-label="Status">{{ log.status_code if log.status_code else "pending" }}</td>
                         </tr>
                         {% else %}
diff --git a/smolrouter/templates/request_detail.html b/smolrouter/templates/request_detail.html
index 49fd3f4..eb65962 100644
--- a/smolrouter/templates/request_detail.html
+++ b/smolrouter/templates/request_detail.html
@@ -379,7 +379,14 @@ <h2>Response Information</h2>
                 </div>
             </div>
             
-            {% if log.original_model or log.mapped_model %}
+            {% if model_observation_status == "not_inspected_rate_limit" %}
+            <div class="detail-section">
+                <h2>Model</h2>
+                <div class="detail-row">
+                    <span class="detail-value">Not inspected (rate limited before body)</span>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+            {% elif log.original_model or log.mapped_model %}
             <div class="detail-section">
                 <h2>Model Mapping</h2>
                 <div class="detail-row">
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_app.py b/tests/unit/test_app.py
index b2eb572..a316575 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_app.py
@@ -981,7 +981,7 @@ async def test_proxy_backed_routes_enforce_rate_limit_before_body_parsing(
     monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "_parse_openai_request_payload", parse_payload)
     monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "_route_openai_request", route_upstream)
 
-    response = await async_client.post(path, content=b'{"secret":"must-not-be-read"}')
+    response = await async_client.post(path, content=b'{"model":"must-not-be-inspected","secret":"must-not-be-read"}')
 
     assert response.status_code == 429
     assert response.json()["error"]["code"] == "anonymous_rate_limit_exceeded"
@@ -1033,6 +1033,35 @@ async def test_rate_limiter_failure_returns_stable_503_before_parse_or_upstream(
     route_upstream.assert_not_awaited()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_rate_limiter_503_log_derives_model_status_without_reading_body(
+    async_client, isolated_db, monkeypatch
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "ENABLE_LOGGING", True)
+    limiter = SimpleNamespace(check=AsyncMock(side_effect=ConnectionError("redis unavailable")))
+    parse_payload = AsyncMock(side_effect=AssertionError("body must not be parsed"))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "REQUEST_RATE_LIMITER", limiter)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "_parse_openai_request_payload", parse_payload)
+
+    response = await async_client.post(
+        "/v1/responses",
+        content=b'{"model":"private-model","input":"must-not-be-read"}',
+    )
+
+    assert response.status_code == 503
+    records = await app_module.RequestLog.get_recent(1)
+    assert records[0].status_code == 503
+    assert not records[0].original_model
+    assert not records[0].mapped_model
+    assert getattr(records[0], "request_body", None) is None
+    assert getattr(records[0], "request_body_key", None) is None
+    assert getattr(records[0], "request_body_hash", None) is None
+    assert app_module._serialize_request_log(records[0])["model_observation_status"] == (
+        "not_inspected_rate_limit"
+    )
+    parse_payload.assert_not_awaited()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_disabled_request_limiter_skips_check(async_client, mock_openai_upstream, disable_logging, monkeypatch):
     limiter = SimpleNamespace(check=AsyncMock(side_effect=AssertionError("disabled limiter must not run")))
@@ -1266,7 +1295,7 @@ async def fake_get_active_container(_legacy_proxy: bool):
 
     response = await async_client.post(
         "/v1/embeddings",
-        content=b'{"api_key":"never-store-this"}',
+        content=b'{"model":"text-embedding-private","api_key":"never-store-this"}',
         headers={app_module.FACADE_KEY_HEADER: "srk-project-secret"},
     )
 
@@ -1275,6 +1304,29 @@ async def fake_get_active_container(_legacy_proxy: bool):
     assert records[0].status_code == 429
     assert records[0].identity_subject_id == "project-a"
     assert records[0].request_size == 0
+    assert not records[0].original_model
+    assert not records[0].mapped_model
+    assert getattr(records[0], "request_body", None) is None
+    assert getattr(records[0], "request_body_key", None) is None
+    assert getattr(records[0], "request_body_hash", None) is None
+    serialized = app_module._serialize_request_log(records[0])
+    assert serialized["model_observation_status"] == "not_inspected_rate_limit"
+    assert serialized["original_model"] in (None, "")
+    assert serialized["mapped_model"] in (None, "")
+    main_page = await async_client.get("/")
+    client_page = await async_client.get(f"/clients/{records[0].source_ip}")
+    project_page = await async_client.get("/projects/project-a")
+    request_page = await async_client.get(f"/request/{records[0].id}")
+    assert main_page.status_code == 200
+    assert client_page.status_code == 200
+    assert project_page.status_code == 200
+    assert request_page.status_code == 200
+    expected_message = "Not inspected (rate limited before body)"
+    assert expected_message in main_page.text
+    assert expected_message in client_page.text
+    assert 'font-size: 0.75rem; color: #666;' in client_page.text
+    assert expected_message in project_page.text
+    assert expected_message in request_page.text
     assert "project-secret" not in str(response.headers)
     fake_container.route_request.assert_not_awaited()
 
@@ -2833,6 +2885,76 @@ def test_body_status_preserves_write_failed_when_archival_failed():
     assert app_module._body_status(log_entry, "request_body") == "write_failed"
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("status_code", "error_message"),
+    [(429, "anonymous_rate_limit_exceeded"), (503, "rate_limiter_unavailable")],
+)
+def test_request_log_summary_derives_uninspected_model_status_for_limiter_terminal_logs(
+    status_code, error_message
+):
+    log_entry = SimpleNamespace(
+        id="limited-request",
+        timestamp=app_module.datetime.now(),
+        source_ip="127.0.0.1",
+        path="/v1/chat/completions",
+        service_type="openai",
+        upstream_url="rate-limiter",
+        original_model="",
+        mapped_model=None,
+        status_code=status_code,
+        error_message=error_message,
+    )
+
+    summary = app_module._serialize_request_log_summary(log_entry)
+    detail = app_module._serialize_request_detail_response(
+        log_entry,
+        {"is_duplicate": False, "duplicate_count": 0, "request_body_hash": None, "duplicates": []},
+    )
+
+    assert summary["model_observation_status"] == "not_inspected_rate_limit"
+    assert detail["model_observation_status"] == "not_inspected_rate_limit"
+    assert summary["original_model"] == ""
+    assert summary["mapped_model"] is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "log_entry",
+    [
+        SimpleNamespace(upstream_url="provider:openai", original_model="", mapped_model=None),
+        SimpleNamespace(upstream_url="rate-limiter", original_model="gpt-4o", mapped_model=None),
+        SimpleNamespace(upstream_url="rate-limiter", original_model=None, mapped_model="routed-model"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_model_observation_status_does_not_relabel_other_missing_or_known_models(log_entry):
+    assert app_module._derive_model_observation_status(log_entry) is None
+
+
+def test_model_observation_status_does_not_enter_performance_or_model_filter_fields():
+    log_entry = SimpleNamespace(
+        id="limited-request",
+        timestamp=app_module.datetime.now(),
+        upstream_url="rate-limiter",
+        original_model=None,
+        mapped_model=None,
+        service_type="openai",
+        path="/v1/chat/completions",
+        status_code=429,
+        duration_ms=5,
+        request_size=0,
+        response_size=0,
+        prompt_tokens=None,
+        completion_tokens=None,
+        total_tokens=None,
+    )
+
+    point = app_module._serialize_performance_point(log_entry)
+
+    assert point["model"] is None
+    assert point["original_model"] is None
+    assert point["mapped_model"] is None
+    assert app_module._matches_performance_filters(log_entry, "not_inspected_rate_limit", None) is False
+
+
 def test_serialize_request_detail_response_reuses_summary_and_provider_metadata():
     timestamp = app_module.datetime.now()
     log_entry = SimpleNamespace(