Marvin, while I don't doubt that there are isolated instances of matching a mag to the original pistol, IMO it's neither common nor possible to be 100% certain in many cases.
Beginning in 1912, according to Jan Still in "Imperial Lugers", DWM made essentially the same mag until, by 1918, the bright finish gave way to an unfinished surface. Exactly when the change over took place is unclear. But, I think it safe to say that DWM made the same mags for a period of no less than 4 - 6 years. i.e., 1912 to possibly as late as 1917. Even if the period was only 4 years, the possibility of the mag being original to the gun is only 25%. If the period is extended to 6 years, the odds drop to less than 17%. The only exceptions to this would be if a sufix letter block of pistols were manufactured in some years but not others. I believe I've read that some LP-08's made by DWM later in the war were issued with as many as six magazines serialed to the gun. That would put the odds in a tail spin for some pistols while improving them for others.
Unless there exists specific and detailed information about magazine production numbers, finishes etc. that I'm unaware of, to remove the guess work, the best we can do in most instances is play the odds.
IMO, it's just not possible *in MOST instances* that a mag separated from it's original gun can be reunited with 100 percent certainty that they were issued together. That's just my opinion.
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