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The origins of this little known Mosin Nagant variation are vague and it's use as a military weapon is uncertain.  Two known facts are that the conversion was done in Belgium and the few known examples in the US were imported by Interarms from Spain.  For further information refer to "8mm Blindee Converted Mosin Nagants" by Kevin Carney at Mosin-Nagant.net.    The example pictured here was fashioned from a 1910 Tula M91 that retains it's early style stock and sling swivels.  The nose cap and the extreme forend of the stock have been removed, possibly to allow the use of a standard socket bayonet.

The barrel was shortened from the breech and re-chambered in 8mm.  None of the original markings are visible on the barrel and the rifle is serial numbered on the receiver.  The barrel is marked "8x57mm PV  B. Blindee".   "B. Blindee" (short for Balles Blindée in French) is the standard Belgian proof meaning "for jacketed bullets" and while not the proper name for this conversion, it has come into common use as the designation for this variation among Mosin collectors.  Various other marks, including the Belgian Liege proof are found on the barrel and reciever.  "Star over G" is the mark of a Liege Proof House "contoleur" named Josef Charlier who was employed from 1928 to 1959.   Thanks to John Wall who supplied this information from Bruno Joos De Ter Beerst's "Trademarks and Hallmarks on Firearms in Belgium".  The receiver is modified with a relief cut at the forward end to accommodate the longer cartridge and the charger bridge is reworked.  The stock is filled forward of the shortened barrel shank.

The receiver is further modified by a milled slot in the lower right side which is filled with a flat piece of steel welded in place.  This narrows the channel through the bottom of the receiver to fit the 8mm cartridge.

The "toe" of the cartridge ramp is also removed in effect creating one long taper rather than the drastic change in the shoulder area as seen on an unmodified receiver.

The interrupter/ejector is heavily modified and is now a three piece system as opposed to the single piece used on early M91s.  The magazine body is reshaped for the 8mm cartridge.  There is no apparent change to the follower or other magazine internal parts.

The bolt head is reworked for the smaller rimless head and shortened from the front.   The pictures below are of the Blindee bolt head on the left and a standard Mosin bolt head on the right.  The Belgian proof marks are repeated on the bolt head and bolt body.

The trigger is a standard Mosin style with the addition of a mouse trap spring around the trigger pin.  The original 1910 Tula markings remain on the bottom of the tang.