Can anyone identify this thing

I talked to the guy but forgot to ask a few questions (he doesn't do e-mail)

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/bik/2581569737.html

Based on it having canti lever brakes, which year would that be (didn't V brakes come out in like.... 1995 1996?)

based on that also, wouldn't it then be a Durango built bike?

$300? $300?

Well he owns a bike shop, so he's probably no stranger to ripping people off.

Well, not a crap bike in its day, tho. If indeed in excellent condition as posted, ie. with no crap or worn out parts, I don't see why it would not be a decent deal for buying on the cheap. Of course, ridgid would have to be what ya want..........

do you guys who are bashing it know barracuda? its like buying an old bontrager race lite. i believe it was either built by yeti, or they had yeti employees come over to build/design for them.

anyway I am looking for a decent all around bike for not a ton of money. It is for me to leave in Arizona so I can stop lugging my bike back and forth 2X a year for work.

My LBS dealt Barracuda when they were first introduced.

I am not really familliar with the company's bikes, but here is the Barracuda fan site replete with history, a forum, etc. :

https://www.barracudabicycles.com/index.html

Yes I know Barracuda. I had an A2R frame GIVEN to me a few years ago by the mgr friend of an LBS. My son uses it as a winter commuter now. He bought an A2Z frame for cheap when he worked at said LBS. It's his wife's winter beater now. Interesting tubeset; nice welds; nice enough old-school. But, c'mon, get real - - it's yard sale fodder now. Don't get your panties in such a bunch over the sad truth.

As far as the Yeti connection: I believe Frank the Welder was involved in Barracuda before he went to Yeti.

alright well here is the situation, I need a cheaper bike to ride around in Arizona and leave @ work , when I go to there 2x a year for 2 weeks at a time. after 6 years i am sick of lugging my bike around and should have done this a long time ago. Would like the option to ride in the dirt or leave it locked up in town if I go out for dinner or grocery shopping or something.

i dont want to spend a lot.. as i'm not quite sure where i am going to put it when i'm not there for 11 months out of the year.

I can't say I know much about Barracuda, I was mostly just playing off Doug's comment. I have faith in his judgment & it hasn't led me astray yet (though that's not to say it never will). FWIW, knowing that it's a solid frame, I'd spend $300 on that before spending $300 on a new entry level bike. But for your money, I think you can do better. My brother got a Surly 1x1 built with XT (I think?) or higher components for around that price. And he says he loves that the frame is ****-brown & dirty so to a thieving eye, it just looks like an old POS. Not that great deals are everywhere to be found, but if you're patient I think you can find something better for your money.