In order to purchase Weaponsmithing or Gunsmithing, you must have at least one of the following:

1. An IC instructor.
2. A mentor with that knowledge.
3. Another source of knowledge such as a library or shop.
4. Judgenoted IC use of the stat or judgenoted attempts at learning.

If going from 0->1, 1-3 are the best methods, but 4 will work also and the judge may require you to make rolls to see how well you do at it.

When going higher in the stat, if you do not have a PC instructor or a mentor, you will actually have to use the stat in order to raise it.

It is more difficult to acquire these stats than others because these skills are not as easy to acquire as most others. For example, a student may apprentice to a master blacksmith for 10 years before he or she is allowed to touch a sword.