The white-line spacers made me think it was re-stocked about then, or maybe re-finished and freshened...

The Greener side safeties can be made much easier to use for jump shooting by filing the button flat and soldering on a higher one. I did this to several over the years, and was pleased with the added ease in manipulating them with the higher button. As drillings were used in stands, they didn't much worry about getting the safety off fast for jump shooting.

I'm with you regarding the Sauer system with the side levers and top tang safties! They are the the perfect design for my tastes.