In the late 50's Timken offered the barrel making industry chrome moly steel with reduced sulpher and traces of vanadium or selenium Reports of highly increased toughness, ease of machining, more uniform rifling by button methods.

How long was this product used and what was the history of usage?

Douglas and Roy Gradel were both very high on what they thought would be increased life.

I remember reading about it back in the late 50s and early 60s, but I don't think that it ever became very popular. I don't know the reason why it didn't.

Any steel manufactureing company could have duplicated it if it was any better that what was then in use.