To ameliorate the resistance to oxidation at high temperatures on the end face of an exhaust gas inlet side and near the end face by adding the concentration of an element such as Cr or Al to a metallic foil material from the end face of the exhaust gas inlet side to a specific inside area of a honeycomb material made up of a metallic plain foil and a metallic corrugated foil rolled in a stacked state with numerous air holes formed in the axial direction and thereby, making the element concentration value higher than the average concentration value of the entire foils.

A sprayed layer 6 of Al is formed on a honeycomb material 3 made up of the corrugated foil 1 and the plain foil 2 of a metallic foil material rolled in a stacked state with numerous air holes 4 formed in the axial direction in such a manner that the Al concentration value from the end face of the exhaust gas inlet side to an area extending 0.2 mm from the former is made higher than the average concentration value of the entire metallic foil material. In addition, a ring-like elastic support which is wound around the outer periphery of the honeycomb material 3 and fastened is formed and further, a metal carrier is formed by mounting the honeycomb material 3 on an outer cylinder through the ring-like elastic support wound around the outer periphery. A catalyst is borne in the air holes 4 of the honeycomb material 3 to obtain the metallic catalyst converter. Thus it is possible to ameliorate the resistance to oxidation at high temperatures at least, in the exhaust gas inlet side area of the honeycomb material 3 and thereby, enhance the durability of the honeycomb material 3.