If you absolutely want to have only 1 weapon loaded in the layout, I don't see other technique but a layout per weapon, and dynamic loading of everything else, as you can't create an object in a layout in C2 if it wasn't created at the start of the layout.
In that case, I would still use the same layout for multiple weapons that have the same animations, as you may be able to spare a little more memory here too.
That being said, you sure can put more than 1 weapon in a layout. Plus, if you destroy it at the start, depending on the device, the memory will be free automatically (I may be mistaking, if anyone has more precise info).
So you are telling me if I place every piece of weapon and armour into the layout but when the layout is officially loaded when previewing the game I can run a line saying something like:
OnStartOfLayout - *armour.destroy() and *weapon.destroy()
?
Now if that is possible(I will test later) will I be able to do something like this?
(While in shop)
Player.BuySword2
Sword1.Unpin, Sword1.destroy, Player.createSword2(x,y), Sword2.Pin(Player, x, y) ? or with any other sword and armour?