Among the myriad current folding knife makers and manufacturers, there cannot be that many "strongest, most durable, most reliable" designs for [their] locking systems and handle-blade joint/junction - can there?

Has there occurred any rigorous test series on well-designed (whatever that means) single-bladed locking folding knives? If there has, please furnish summary or link.

Some of my interests concern resistance to transverse stress (prying) and twisting. Also how currently manufactured folding knives compare with one as simply designed as the long-discontinued Cold Steel TwistMaster® - a superset of Opinel's design.

Interested in seeing you mention the old Cold Steel Twistmaster. Have one in my hunting pack and it has given me very good service.

Seems like every maker has a lock back that is "special" and I think it is all sales b.s. I prefer folders over fixed blades and have had many with different lock back modes.

Using the knife as a knife I don't see a bit of difference in any of them. My current favorite one is a Benchmade with a very simple locking mechanism.