Jeff Stephens published an excellent two part article in DGJ some time ago detailing date of production records by serial number for EARLY Sauer guns, but they did not extend to the GDR era if I remember correctly, as the early Sauer guns have been of much more interest to collectors. I do not know if late production records are accessible, although some Sauer experts here may have better information than I. The Royal was a post war gun, I have a couple, and both of mine have the usual German date codes stamped in the proof marks on the barrel flats. Look for a 3 or 4 digit code, like 259 for February 1959, etc.