Two questions
 

One: How does one trace the history of a Luger? Specifically, is there a way to cross-reference the serial number to some dusty register that indicates what unit/when it was issued?

Two: Many of the magazines I've seen in pictures on this board and on other websites seem to be very bright, almost like they are polished. The magazine I have is the same dark blue color as the rest of the gun, though still with a wooded bottom. Is it simply a matter of age and patina or were there certain years that had polished mags?

For the record, I have a 1917 DWM, SN 5971 h

Thanks!

-Aaron

Short answers: No and dunno.
A:
I know of no Luger registry where a serial number can be used to ID where the gun was sent to.
The blued body mag. issue has come up before here and the consensus is that it is not a correct original. However I am not so sure, because I could swear I picked up an old Artillery with just such a mag. some time ago, but don't have it in front of me to be certain. Let's see what the others have to say...again. Can you post more photos of the mag, numbers, markings, etc?
dju

Yes, I only took a few originally, and the wooden bottom of the mag is pretty worn, but I'll try to get some better pictures posted.

the ww1 mags were tin and there were some nickled ones, so nickle will show much nicer than just a tin one.

Later, some were blued that were just metal.

No easy answer as they were made so many years and so many makers...