A method for manufacturing magnetic metal powder is provided. In the
method, a powdered magnetic metal oxide is supplied to a heat treatment
furnace with a carrier gas composed of a reducing gas. The heat treatment
furnace is maintained at temperatures above a reducing action starting
temperature for the powdered magnetic metal oxide and above a melting
point of the magnetic metal in the powder. The powdered magnetic metal
oxide is subject to a reducing process, and then magnetic metal
particles, the resultant reduced product, is melted to form a melt. The
melt is re-crystallized in a succeeding cooling step, to obtain single
crystal magnetic metal power in substantially spherical form.