Thank you everyone, for the renewed interest in this thread and my apologies for not contributing sooner. I haven't checked in here for a long time as my employment has taken me away from my home (and machinery) for the better part of a year now. The good news (if you can call it good) is that I am in Detroit for the forseeable future and they're practically paying one to haul away machinery and tools around here. Also there are plenty of people and places willing to rent out time in their shops, etc. So, last week I went home and collected the gun and plan to begin this project in earnest.
Birdhunter, thanks for the good information about the ribs. And I have been leaning toward disk-set strikers. I do plan to restock it as the LOP is quite short and I would want a pistol grip with a cheekpiece. I doubt if I will do that work myself. I have someone in mind.
The cost of modern damascus barrels is about $6000 total for both. I doubt I will go that route.
Thanks again.