Metal (Cu, Co, Ni, Pd, Pt, and Ag) nanowires (MNWs) have been produced using anodic aluminum oxide as template. The grown MNWs are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electron diffraction. The optical limiting properties of the MNWs are also studied and results obtained at 532 and 1064 nm indicate that MNWs have broadband optical limiting capability and the optical limiting performances of some MNWs are comparable to or better than that of carbon nanotubes. It was found that the nonlinear response of MNWs is dominated by nonlinear scattering. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.