Thanks for the encouragement. This has dragged on for too long to botch it now. I'll make a proper job of it otherwise it'll annoy me until I do. Just can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
:-)

Let's see if anyone's got some spare ones:
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=40038

So you're after early model fork stanchions then? Correct? Do you still have the new tubes? If you do and don't mind telling me what did you pay for them?

Squared off...shabby with bent stanchions...but the internals could well still be good....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-NC-30-V ... 5aebb233c1

I have the wrong stanchions. They are for the early type, damping-rod internals.

Thanks to everyone who's helped me finally work that out.

If you want to use your new damper rod TNK stanchions in your cartridge type forks why not simply remove the plastic ring fitted in the TNK stanchions, this part is not fitted for cartridge forks. I would expect this to be the only significant difference between the two types, although you would also need to check that the anti bottoming cone on the your later model fork cartridge fits/functions with its mate at the lower end of the TNK stanchion.