That's a good sign! Another good sign is if the bolt (3 digit number marked on the flat part of the handle where it connects to the bolt body) matches the serial number on the receiver. Look at the screws on the bottom of the rifle that are holding the action in the stock. They were staked at the factory. If they are still staked, that is a good indicator that the gun is original. If they are un-staked, then the gun has been dismantled at some time. If the owner will let you, take the bolt apart and check the 3-digit number on the base of the safety knob. If it matches the bolt and the receiver, great! Does it have the anti-aircraft sights (fold down arms)? A picture of the serial number would really help since Arisakas are similar to Germanicon Mausers in that as the war went on, they were stripped of features and workmanship changed. They started with excellent workmanship, anti-aircraft sights, a monopod, dust cover, rounded bolt handle and engraved safety knob. My 1941 Type 99 is a beautiful rifle, but none of the numbers match, it is a parts gun, and the stock has been sanded slightly. It functions perfectly and shoots great. I paid $350 for it about a year ago at a gun show. My 1945 Arisakaicon Type 99 "last ditch" rifle looks nothing like my 1941 rifle. It is crude, rattles a lot, and looks pretty scary. It also functions perfectly and shoots great. It also has all matching numbers. I got lucky and picked it up for $75 from a dealer who thought it was too ugly to be of any value. If you provide a picture of the serial number, several people here can tell you what features your gun should have on it and the level of craftsmanship it should display. A really important picture to get is the symbol located at the start of the serial number since it will tell you the series number for your rifle and indicates when it was manufactured. $600 sounds a little high unless it is an all-matching numbers rifle. Hope that helps!