The instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of industrially important steel samples, viz. IS-226, IS-2002, IS-2062, SS-304, SS-310, SS-316 and of copper base alloys, viz. high brass, gun metal and copper-silver alloys is carried out with a 2 Ci252Cf neutron source. The copper and vanadium content of all the steel samples and manganese content of former three steel samples are estimated by measuring the gamma activity of66Cu,52V and56Mn radioisotopes, respectively, using a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector coupled to a 4 K multichannel analyzer (MCA). Similarly, the copper content of copper base alloys was also determined.