Question on pvp chars and unlocking weapons

When you make a pvp char the skills you have unlocked are shown, but, i never see the weapons i've found ( only low lvl stuff) to use, only the pvp weapons are availible. My question is, are the higher lvl weps unlockable to use with pvp chars? Or, do I have to use a rp char to pvp in order to have purple yellow etc quality weps to pvp with?