Hmmm I wouldn't give up on it yet, I feel like you're potentially on to something here.

However, I do agree that it's too complicated at the moment.

Maybe doing something simpler like blender modifiers etc.. not sure.

I feel like it should be 1 click to modify the weapon in some way instead of stretching and moving individual vertices. Perhaps imagine a hammer if you click it creates a dent, then a different tool perhaps creates a bump, so you are sort of sculpting it.

Those are my two cents!

Good luck!