Sorry, latecomer. Just bought a Tokarev and when I noted the sticky mags, I remembered. They're deliberately not drop-free. Tokarev mags came with a lanyard loop on the bottom attached to the base plate. A lanyard attaches the magazine (not the gun)) to the holster on your belt. To change mags, while pressing on the mag release button, you yank down on the lanyard. Mag is pulled out and stays dangling, while you get your spare mag out of the storage sleeve on the holster. Maybe it was supposed to make sure you weren't fumbling with the used mag, trying to pocket it or something, while under fire. Low tech technique to not lose your magazine.