Scattering from microcontoured surfaces, with length scales on the order of the wavelength of the incident radiant energy, requires consideration of electromagnetic scattering theory. A rigorous first principle formulation to predict the bidirectional reflectivity for microcontoured or periodically profiled. surfaces is presented. The focus of this investigation is on general scattering phenomena from such surfaces, on the specific experimental findings reported, and on previously reported experimental results that have not been predicted. Experimental data for the bidirectional reflectivity from nickel surfaces with sinusoidal and triangular profiles, and for chrome specimens with rectangular profiles, are presented. Comparisons between the reported experimenter results and other measurements indicate very good agreement between the theoretical predictions and the experimental findings.