well to have an item over the lvl 180 you need to add an itemtype for that item with a max level over 180 as well as the data/ani/ini files that go with the weapon you are trying to add
you will not get the npc to upgrade your weapons for you however without making edits in the message server
I would reccomend you use the vip uplevel system as most people do instead as message server edits are a pain