Carbon nanofibers were prepared from the decomposition of various carbon-containing gases over pure Ni, pure Fe and their alloys with Cu. They yields, properties, and structure of carbon nanofibers obtained from the various reaction conditions were analyzed. Type of reacting gas, reaction temperature and catalyst composition were changed as the reaction variable. With Ni-Cu catalysts, the maximum yields of carbon nanofibers were obtained at temperatures between 550 and 650$^{circ}C$ according to the reacting gas mixtures of C2H2-H2, C2H4-H2 and C3H8-H2, and the surface areas of the carbon nanofibers produced were 20∼350㎡/g. In the case of CO-H2 mixture, the rapid deposition of carbon nanofibers occurred with Fe-Cu catalyst and the maximum yield were obtained around 550$^{circ}C$ with the range of surface areas of 140∼170㎡/g. The electrical resistivity of carbon nanofiber regarded as the key property of filler for the application of electromagnetic interference shielding was very sensitive to the type of reactant gas and the catalyst composition ranging 0.07∼1.5Ωcm at a pressure of 10000 psi, and the resistivity of carbon nanofibers produced over pure nickel catalyst were lower than those over alloy catalysts. SEM observation showed that the carbon nanofibers produced had the diameters ranging 20∼300 nm and the straight structure of carbon nanofibers changed into the twisted or helical conformation by the variation of reacting gas and catalyst composition.