The　elastic　strain　sustainable　in　crystal　lattices　is　usually　limited　by　the　onset　of　inelastic　yielding　mediated　by　discrete　dislocation　activity,　displacive　deformation　twinning　and　stress-induced　phase　transformations,　or　fracture　associated　with　flaws.　Here　we　report　a　continuous　and　gradual　lattice　deformation　in　bending　nickel　nanowires　to　a　reversible　shear　strain　as　high　as　34.6%,　which　is　approximately　four　times　that　of　the　theoretical　elastic　strain　limit　for　unconstrained　loading.　The　functioning　deformation　mechanism　was　revealed　on　the　atomic　scale　by　an　in　situ　nanowire　bending　experiments　inside　a　transmission　electron　microscope.　The　complete　continuous　lattice　straining　process　of　crystals　has　been　witnessed　in　its　entirety　for　the　straining　path,　which　starts　from　the　face-centred　cubic　lattice,　transitions　through　the　orthogonal　path　to　reach　a　body-centred　tetragonal　structure　and　finally　to　a　re-oriented　face-centred　cubic　structure.