Rancy type catalysts were prepared by means of a two step procedure: (1) Mechanical alloying of the metals and, (2) alkaline aluminum leaching. Mechanical alloying is a novel atlernative related to the synthesis of skeletal Ni catalysts. X-ray diffraction, and Mössbauer spectroscopies were performed for catalysts characterization. Binary Al-Ni and ternary Al-Ni-Fe alloys were produced by mechanical alloying from pure metallic powders; in particular, the intermetallic -(AlNi) phase was formed with a fine microstructure as a non-equilibrium phase; then, aluminum was selectively removed. After aluminum leaching the -(AlNi) phase was transformed into the more stable nickel fee structure.