Not really sure what you mean by tortuous, but an easier distinction is that honey locust often has compound thorns (Gleditsia TRI-acanthos, meaning the three-spined Gleditsia), whereas BL typically has singular spines (though often paired). Both have pods but BLs are small, 10 x 1 cm, whereas in HL they are larger, up to 30-40 cm.
Both can have thorns on the the stem but in HL they can be much longer than in BL and persist longer. In BL, the spines are actually modified pointy stipules (paired axillary leaflets at the base of the actual leaves), in HL they are modified branches. This defines the difference -botanically speaking- between a thorn and a spine:
a thorn is a branch, a spine is a leaf (or part of it).
Not to be confused with a prickle, which is an pointy outgrowth of the epidermis, the outermost layer of the plant. In roses, for example, the prickle is easy to pop off the skin of a branch.
http://dept.ca.uky.edu/Morphology/Stemthorns.pdfSo from your description, I would guess you're dealing with honey locust, having very obvious thorns and large pods.
