Robert,
Thanks much. This Howland design appears to be very simple in its function. It also seems to be very tolerant of upper to lower tang relationship. Now that I understand how it works I believe it will be reliable.

Unfortunately, the stock has been grafted at the wrist and not done all that well. The entire stock aft of the wrist is a replacement. It has also been butchered up in the inletting to allow some unknowing hack to remove the stock without removing the sears. And so I have no reservations about restocking the gun as it will never be the "original" stock ever again.