To further enhance the catalytic activity and durability of nanocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), we synthesized a new class of 20 nm X 2 nm ternary alloy FePtM (M = Cu, Ni) nanorods (NRs) with controlled compositions. Supported on carbon support and treated with acetic acid as well as electrochemical etching, these FePtM NRs were converted into core/shell FePtM/Pt NRs. These core/shell NRs, especially FePtCu/Pt NRs, exhibited much improved ORR activity and durability. The Fe10Pt75Cu15 NRs showed a mass current densities of 1.034 A/mg(Pt) at 512 mV vs Ag/AgCl and 0.222 A/mg(Pt) at 557 mV vs Ag/AgCl, which are much higher than those for a commercial Pt catalyst (0.138 and 0.035 A/mg(Pv) respectively). Our controlled synthesis provides a general approach to core/shell NRs with enhanced catalysis for the ORR or other chemical reactions.