The Vaguard has an different bolt shroud than the Howa. It is solid at the back. This adds more weight to the firing pin assembly (a disadvantage) but it gives it a clean look (if you like that).
Because one cannot tell the Vanguard in is the cocked position by looking at the back of the bolt assembly (because of the different shroud), the Vanguard has extend metal on the "cocking" piece (different in it's length to the Howa) so that one can visually see that the firing pin is in the fire position.
Minor differences are the fact that standard barrel length on the Vanguard is 24" vs 22" on the Howa, the Vanguard has minor fluting on the bolt, and the fact that the Vanguard uses slotted head actions screws whereas the current Howas use hexhead. Not to mention the fact that the rollmark is on the action not on the barrel.
I'm sure your're a great guy Swampman...(in person)...but you really come of as someone talking above his intelligence on the board. Not that you care.
