My first SHTLE MKIII.

[Alan de Enfield]

but was the rifle proofed after leaving military service or not?

It would not have had a civilian proof whilst in service.

Just remember that proof testing is simply the firing of one 'over pressure' cartridge, it does not check for (for example) headspace, it will look to make sure the barrel is not bulged or the action twisted etc. Prooving an 'old' rifle will not show if it will 'explode' at the next firing, the 1000th firing or the 10,000th firing.
The proof round pressure could even have pushed it right to the edge, we just don't know.

To be marked DP, Z, ZF etc it obviously failed whatever gauging was specified, and without those gauges how can WE test it.

To answer your question - Yes it has been fired (at least once) since leaving military service.

[Surpmil]

It would not have had a civilian proof whilst in service.

Just remember that proof testing is simply the firing of one 'over pressure' cartridge, it does not check for (for example) headspace, it will look to make sure the barrel is not bulged or the action twisted etc. Prooving an 'old' rifle will not show if it will 'explode' at the next firing, the 1000th firing or the 10,000th firing.
The proof round pressure could even have pushed it right to the edge, we just don't know.

To be marked DP, Z, ZF etc it obviously failed whatever gauging was specified, and without those gauges how can WE test it.

To answer your question - Yes it has been fired (at least once) since leaving military service.

Yes, that was my opinion also. And in view of the heavy repolish and worn bluing I suspect it was used for many years, and probably fired a good many rounds in its current state.

[Roger Payne]

Just as a minor point of information, Birmingham Proof House (I only use them, so can only speak from that experience, though I presume London do the same) do check head space as well as carrying out the Over Service Pressure test firing. Rifles do sometimes fail proof for excessive head space. As I know this to be the case I always check the space on all of my rifles that I submit, & I've had nothing fail in years, other than one rifle I submitted for someone else!