Tenable Pelican XL B0018A3 Nitro-V Blade Micarta Handle Liner Lock Folding Knife

The Tenable Pelican XL B0018A3 folding knife pairs a 3.5-inch Nitro-V stainless steel blade with a brown Micarta handle for a durable, practical carry companion. The blade’s flat grind and stonewashed finish complement its clean profile, while the liner lock secures it open during use. Measuring 8.16 inches overall, with a 0.137-inch blade thickness, it offers a substantial yet manageable format at 4.79 ounces. Nitro-V steel is valued for toughness, corrosion resistance, and straightforward sharpening; its edge may need more frequent honing during abrasive cutting than high-vanadium steels. Designed by Kmaxrom Design, the Pelican XL balances robust construction and easy maintenance for outdoor tasks and general utility. Its brown Micarta scales add a textured appearance and comfortable grip feel.

Nitro-V Blade Introduction

Nitro-V is a nitrogen-enriched martensitic stainless steel refined to deliver an outstanding balance of extreme toughness, fine edge stability, and excellent corrosion resistance. Its fine carbide structure allows for remarkable ease of sharpening and exceptional resistance to chipping. However, its edge retention is modest when compared to high-vanadium powder metallurgy steels, meaning it requires more frequent honing under abrasive cutting tasks. It is an ideal choice for demanding applications where durability and ease of maintenance outweigh ultimate wear resistance.

SPECIFICATIONS

Overall Length	8.16''/207.2mm
Blade Length	3.5''/88.9mm
Blade Thickness	0.137''/3.5mm
Blade Material	Nitro V
Blade Style
Blade Grind	Flat Grind
Blade Finish	Stonewashed
Handle Material	Brown Micarta
Color	Brown
Lock Type	Liner Lock
Weight	4.79 oz/135.9g
Model Name	Pelican XL
Model Number	B0018A3
Designer	Kmaxrom Design

Tenable Pelican XL B0018A3 - Nitro-V Wide Drop Point Liner Lock with brown Micarta Handle

The Tenable Pelican XL B0018A3, designed by Kmaxrom Design, pairs a 3.5 inch Nitro-V wide drop point with brown Micarta scales and a steel liner lock at 135.9 g (4.79 oz). A large-format folding knife with a deep slicing belly.

Nitro-V: Tough, Stainless, and Easy to Live With

Nitro-V is a nitrogen-enriched martensitic stainless, and it is the right steel for a wide 3.5 inch utility blade. Nitrogen refinement keeps the grain fine and the toughness a half step above 14C28N, so the deep-bellied edge shrugs off rolls when it works through cardboard, food packs and cord. It will not spot in a sweaty pocket, and it hones back to shaving sharp on a 1000-grit water stone in minutes. Compare it with 14C28N, 154CM and CPM-S35VN in the table below.

Why the Tenable Pelican XL Belongs in Your Pocket

• 3.5 inch Nitro-V wide drop point at 59-61 HRC with a full flat grind.
• Stonewashed finish that hides carry marks and kills glare.
• Brown micarta scales with an ergonomic contoured grip.
• Oversized thumb disc for fast, positive one-handed opening.
• Steel liner lock with solid, early lockup.
• 135.9 g (4.79 oz) on an 8.16 inch frame - large reach that still carries flat.
• Deep slicing belly for food packs, cardboard and cordage.
• Lanyard hole at the rear of the handle for cord or a fob.

Best Uses for the Pelican XL B0018A3

• Everyday utility: boxes, tape, shrink wrap and blister packs.
• Camp kitchen work where a wide bellied blade shines at food prep.
• Outdoor and hiking carry as the big-blade backup to a small knife.
• Range and gear duty: cutting webbing, straps and tie-downs.
• Collector display for the distinctive Kmaxrom Design profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What steel is the Pelican XL B0018A3 blade?
Nitro-V stainless steel at 59-61 HRC, flat ground. It is tough, genuinely corrosion resistant and quick to sharpen - a working steel that tolerates neglect far better than D2.

What shape is the blade?
A wide drop point: the store spec sheet leaves the style field blank, but the photos show a deep-bellied drop point with a high spine behind the tip. It is a slicer, not a piercer.

How does it open?
An oversized thumb disc at the blade root gives a fast, positive one-hand swing - no flipper tab to catch on a pocket seam.

What makes the B0018A3 handle special?
Brown Micarta: canvas laminate that absorbs skin oil and grips better the longer you carry it.

How big is the Pelican XL?
Open it is 8.16" (207.2 mm), the blade is 3.5" (88.9 mm) at 0.137" (3.5 mm), and it weighs 135.9 g (4.79 oz) - a large-format folder that carries like a mid-size.

Nitro-V vs. Common Folding Knife Steels

Steel	Typical HRC	Edge Retention	Corrosion Resistance	Toughness	Sharpening Ease
Nitro-V (this knife)	59-61	Good	Very Good	Better	Easy
14C28N	59-61	Good	Excellent	Good	Very Easy
154CM	58-61	Good	Good	Very Good	Moderate
CPM-S35VN	58-60	Very Good	Very Good	Better	Moderate
D2 Tool Steel	58-61	Very Good	Fair	Good	Moderate
7Cr17MoV	56-58	Fair	Good	Good	Very Easy

Nitro-V is a nitrogen-enriched martensitic stainless from Steelcraft (now Austenite) that lands at 59-61 HRC in production heat treat. The nitrogen refinement keeps the grain fine and the toughness a half step above 14C28N, which is exactly what you want on the Pelican XL's wide 3.5 inch blade: it shrugs off edge rolls when the deep belly works through cardboard and food packs, it will not spot in a sweaty pocket, and it hones back to shaving sharp on a 1000-grit water stone in minutes. The trade is raw wear resistance - expect more frequent honing than a high-vanadium super steel under abrasive cutting. HRC figures are typical mill ranges, not a guarantee for any single blade.

Glossary of Key Terms

Tenable Knives
A US knife brand working with independent designers to deliver mid-to-premium production folders, fixed blades and machined builds.

Pelican XL
Tenable's large Nitro-V folder designed by Kmaxrom Design: a 3.5 inch wide drop point on an 8.16 inch frame at 135.9 g with a steel liner lock.

Kmaxrom Design
The design studio behind the Pelican XL, known for wide-blade utility folders with clean industrial lines.

Nitro-V Steel
A nitrogen-enriched martensitic stainless at 59-61 HRC. Better toughness than 14C28N, genuinely corrosion resistant, and quick to sharpen on water stones.

TiCN Coating
Titanium carbonitride, applied as a hard dark surface layer. It adds scratch and glare resistance; wear at the edge is cosmetic, not structural.

G-mascus
A laminated G10 processed to expose a layered, Damascus-like pattern in the scale material. Every handle shows a slightly different stripe.

Glow-in-the-Dark G10
G10 loaded with phosphorescent compound. Charge it under a lamp and the handle glows in the dark - a finder feature as much as a gimmick.

Carbon Fiber with Copper Foil
A carbon fibre laminate woven with copper foil threads, giving the scale a dark marbled look with metallic flecks.

Micarta
Layers of linen or canvas cloth pressed into phenolic resin under heat. It absorbs sweat and skin oil, so grip improves with age instead of going slick.

Liner Lock
A strip of spring steel inside the handle that snaps sideways behind the blade tang when the blade opens. One thumb of the closing hand releases it.

Wide Drop Point
A drop-point profile cut on a unusually wide blade, leaving a deep belly for slicing and a spine that stays high behind the tip for strength.

135.9 Grams
The weight that decides whether a knife disappears in a pocket or reminds you it is there. The Pelican XL carries like a mid-size folder.

Who Should Buy the Pelican XL B0018A3

• Buyers who want Nitro-V toughness in a stainless they can neglect.
• Anyone who wants a wide, deep-bellied blade for food and utility work.
• Fans of Kmaxrom Design's wide-blade industrial folders.
• Users who want a distinctive handle - glow G10, G-mascus or copper-foil CF.
• Collectors chasing a large folder that still carries at 136 g.

Who Should Skip It

• Anyone who needs a piercing point; the wide drop point is a slicer.
• Buyers who want super-steel edge retention; Nitro-V trades wear life for toughness.
• Users who want a featherweight folder - 136 g on 8.16 inches is a mid-weight.
• Left-hand carry users; the clip is set up for right-hand tip-up.
• Anyone who dislikes thumb-disc openers and insists on a flipper.

Care & Maintenance

• Wipe the blade dry after every use; Nitro-V is genuinely stainless, but pocket lint holds moisture against the steel.
• One drop of light knife oil at the pivot monthly, then cycle the action so oil reaches the washers and the lock face.
• Blow lint and grit out of the handle channel and the liner lock recess before oiling so grit never grinds the pivot.
• Sharpen on a 1000-grit water stone or a diamond plate; Nitro-V grinds fast and takes a keen working edge in minutes.
• Finish on a fine ceramic rod or a loaded leather strop with light pressure - heavy passes round the apex you just set.
• Black TiCN coated blades (B0018A1/A2/A4): let the coating wear naturally - the exposed steel behaves the same, just brighter.
• Scrub G10 and G-mascus scales with warm water and a soft brush; wipe Micarta with a barely damp cloth and let it dry.
• Check the pivot, body and pocket clip screws monthly with the correct Torx driver; a loose clip screw is the first thing to back out.
• Never pry, twist or use the tip as a screwdriver - the wide 3.5 mm blade will leverage the liner lock, not survive it.