A corrugated metal gasket (40, 40a, 40b, 50, 60, 70) for use between two flanges, said corrugated metal gasket comprising: an annular gasket substrate having a sealing core (46, 46a, 46b, 56, 66, 76) with a pair of opposing face surfaces (42a, 42b), wherein: a plurality of substantially uniform, sinusoidal, and generally concentric corrugations (42, 52, 62, 72) cut into said opposing face surfaces (42a, 42b) of said sealing core by machining, said plurality of corrugations including a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs arranged such that said peaks of a first face are aligned with said troughs of a second face, said sealing core (46, 46a, 46b, 56, 66, 76) extending in a radial direction from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of a material stock piece; said sealing core (46, 46a, 46b, 56, 66, 76) having a generally uniform axial thickness in an uncompressed state such that a thickness between said peaks of the first face and said troughs of the second face is generally equal to a thickness of transition portions between said peaks of the first face and said troughs of the second face; and by including an outer guide ring (44, 44a), said outer guide ring being a separate component (44, 54, 64, 74) which is assembled into said annular gasket substrate, said annular gasket substrate being constructed and arranged with an annular groove, and said outer guide ring being assembled into said annular groove. an annular gasket substrate having a sealing core (46, 46a, 46b, 56, 66, 76) with a pair of opposing face surfaces (42a, 42b), wherein: a plurality of substantially uniform, sinusoidal, and generally concentric corrugations (42, 52, 62, 72) cut into said opposing face surfaces (42a, 42b) of said sealing core by machining, said plurality of corrugations including a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs arranged such that said peaks of a first face are aligned with said troughs of a second face, said sealing core (46, 46a, 46b, 56, 66, 76) extending in a radial direction from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of a material stock piece; said sealing core (46, 46a, 46b, 56, 66, 76) having a generally uniform axial thickness in an uncompressed state such that a thickness between said peaks of the first face and said troughs of the second face is generally equal to a thickness of transition portions between said peaks of the first face and said troughs of the second face; and by including an outer guide ring (44, 44a), said outer guide ring being a separate component (44, 54, 64, 74) which is assembled into said annular gasket substrate, said annular gasket substrate being constructed and arranged with an annular groove, and said outer guide ring being assembled into said annular groove. a plurality of substantially uniform, sinusoidal, and generally concentric corrugations (42, 52, 62, 72) cut into said opposing face surfaces (42a, 42b) of said sealing core by machining, said plurality of corrugations including a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs arranged such that said peaks of a first face are aligned with said troughs of a second face, said sealing core (46, 46a, 46b, 56, 66, 76) extending in a radial direction from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of a material stock piece; said sealing core (46, 46a, 46b, 56, 66, 76) having a generally uniform axial thickness in an uncompressed state such that a thickness between said peaks of the first face and said troughs of the second face is generally equal to a thickness of transition portions between said peaks of the first face and said troughs of the second face; and by including an outer guide ring (44, 44a), said outer guide ring being a separate component (44, 54, 64, 74) which is assembled into said annular gasket substrate, said annular gasket substrate being constructed and arranged with an annular groove, and said outer guide ring being assembled into said annular groove.