Black locust thorns- infections

[evo]

I've been poked a few times, no big deal for me. The deep ones hurt, but in a day or two never knew it happened. I chip, and climb them both. I had a thorn puncture my rope and break off inside, the next tree I climbed grabbed that exact spot in the rope. The thorn pulled out of the rope and into my palm.
I had a friend wreck his bike into one of these while drunk... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylindropuntia_fulgida

 

[macswan]

Older trees do not have thorns , its the saplings to teens that have them .

In my experience the old trees have them too, mostly on new growth.

 

[Banguts]

In my experience the old trees have them too, mostly on new growth.

I can also confirm this. I have a locust in the back yard that's about 48" dbh, had no idea about the thorns til we were dragging the limbs out front. First armful fucked me up.. arms, right side of my torso.. thorns were all at LEAST 1" long.