There are a number of dead locust on the property; the remains of trees that came after the property was logged many decades before we arrived at the property. I would like to have a core sample taken of some of the oak trees that came back on the stumps to get an idea of exactly when the property was logged. I cut 13 locust posts when I redid the electric fence in the little valley a couple of years ago. I think these are black locust. I cut some today when I was scrounging for wood; they were dead when we moved here some 18 years ago and a moisture test result was 13%; the exact age of how long these trees have been dead is unknown to me. A lot have been consumed by insects leaving just a hollow shell. I am including photos so it can be confirmed or not on the tree being black locust or another variety. The split is a few years old, fresh splits are yellowish in colour.
Yes, Honey Locust bark is much smoother, not having the deep furrows of Black Locust, like your picture. If you look at a clean slice of the end grain with a magnifying glass, Black locust has Tyloses in the pores, (Looks like they are stuffed with something) like White Oak, where Honey Locust is wide open pores, like Red Oak.
Looks like black locust to me. I mistake honey locust for soft maple, looking at only the bark. Black locust also has that distinct smell when you peel the bark.
yep Black Locust, by the bark and the description of being yellowish when cut- make great fence posts that last life times. Honey Locust ( which really isn't a true locust) has much smoother bark and a pinkish heart wood when cut. Most of what you find in Honey locust are thorn-less hybrids( ornamental plantings by and large) but any seeds from, if they germinate, it will mostly revert to the original thorny mess.
A perfunctory google search reveals some easy distinctions.... https://www.homestratosphere.com/types-of-locust-trees/
