this fern was sold to me years ago as male deer fern
now i want to know what it really is
fronds max length 12"

I am no fern expert, but the folks at Fancy Fronds mention that Blechnum australe is similar-looking to Struthiopteris spicant.
https://www.fancyfrondsnursery...

Your fern looks to my untrained eye like what a number of PNW nurseries are selling as Deer Fern, so why do you think it's something else?

Deer Fern are a wild fern here and i have them
this image is of a frond from each, notice they are just a little different
plus the fern i have in question is only 10" long
and the deer frond is almost 24"
the Fern in question is several years old not a baby
if it is a deer fern it is a midget