A metal catalyst carrier for exhaust gas purification, comprising: a metal honeycomb column composed of flat and wavy metal sheets laminated, wound together, and bonded to each other to provide numerous exhaust gas flow paths along the column axis, the honeycomb column having a quasi-elliptical cross section defined by a pair of mutually facing linear portions and a pair of mutually facing curved portions in a plane perpendicular to the column axis, the flat and wavy sheets being bonded in a greater bond rate in the major axial end portions than in the other portion of the quasi-ellipse, the bond rate being defined as a quotient obtained by dividing a bonded length by a total length of lines on which the laminated and wound flat and wavy sheets are in contact with each other; and a columnar metal case fittingly enclosing the honeycomb column and bonded to the honeycomb column only in the portions corresponding to the curved portions of the quasi-elliptical cross section.