In　the　present　work,　nanocrystalline　Ni　(nc-Ni)　with　a　broad　grain　size　distribution　(BGSD)　of　5-120　nm　and　an　average　grain　size　of　27·2　nm　was　prepared.　The　BGSD　nc-Ni　sample　shows　a　similar　strength　and　good　ductility　in　comparison　with　electrodeposited　nc-Ni　with　a　narrow　grain　size　distribution.　The　intracrystalline　dislocation　network　was　observed　in　the　post-deformed　microstructure　confirming　the　conventional　intracrystalline　dislocation　sliding　mechanism　in　BGSD　nc-Ni.　The　uniaxial　tensile　loading-unloading-loading　deformation　shows　BGSD　nc-Ni　has　the　capability　to　store　dislocations　in　the　grain　interior,　which　is　very　limited　compared　with　that　of　coarse　grained　metals.　For　BGSD　nc-Ni,　the　strain　rate　sensitivity　of　flow　stress　m　enhances　with　decreasing　strain　rate.　At　the　strain　rate　of　5　×　10-6　s-1,　m　was　estimated　to　be　0·055.　At　the　corresponding　strain　rate,　the　enhanced　ductility　along　with　the　decreased　strength　was　achievable,　indicating　activation　of　other　deformation　mechanisms,　e.g.　grain　boundary　sliding　or　diffusion.　©　2010　Maney　Publishing.