Hey there, new here and to forging, but not metal work (welding). I'm also an amateur old Norse literature and Scandinavian scholar. Also a practicing "heathen". I know this thread is old but maybe I could shed some light on some of these subjects.
The rune you created is called "Eihwaz". It's actually pre-viking era rune in the proto-indo European language and the rune and sound it makes is actually highly contested that the vowel shape was like that. The system of writing was called "elder futhark" and it had 24 characters (we think).
The system that replaced that came with the next language "old norse" (what the vikings spoke) and a new (16 character) alphabet with mostly familiar shapes representing specific sounds.
When people ask for elder futhark runes it's usually for religious reasons since it is said that the God Óðinn (Odin) learned these runes while hanging 9 nights on the world tree Yggdrasil. Since they weren't used often in the viking period outside of religious context we conclude that modern interpretations on pendants are used as such.
There are a few books and internet chatter about the runes standing for something, but in reality there is no historical or physical evidence of runic magic other than casting stones (like what a sooth-sayer from medieval times would use). It is a practice which was not documented and rarely written about in the sagas. You'll see the errant " Hann kastr runar" or "he cast runes" in random places, but not often.
Simply the runes were just letters other than the "T" Rune or "tiwaz" in PIE or "Tyr" in Old Norse. It does actually symbolize the Norse God Tyr who was essentially the God of Justice, peace and combat (not war - see thor).
We have physical evidence of the Tyr runes being engraved on a blade in a stacked "bind rune" that has a single line with 6 "wings" or basically a T with droopy wings. Looks like a tree symbol.
Obviously Tyr being a God of combat it was more or less a blessing or prayer on the blade to be successful in combat and just in its use.
Unfortunately most modern heathens do little to no research other than internet searches. I have about 2 grand in books on viking age theology, language and sociology. Being of Scandinavian heritage makes it really cool to speak and understand the language and know the history of such a rich culture.
Anyways, nice piece. Love the damascus.
