Nambu Type 14 Pistol

[sheepherder]

That last article [above] had a couple of interesting points in it; specifically about the magazine having it's own 'hold open' so that rounds could be loaded more easily. I tried depressing my mag button down to the bottom of its travel, and one of my magazines does have this feature [pic attached]. The magazine friction spring [on the frontstrap] is supposed to release the follower when it's inserted in the pistol, but mine only half-released. I didn't have any rounds in it, maybe it needs a full load to function correctly.

My matching magazine does not appear to have the 'hold open' feature, but it's pretty gummed up with old grease & crud...

Cool idea, though.