I believe you're referring to this sentence? > "The art form has resurfaced, though, and in 1973 bladesmith William F. Moran unveiled his “Damascus knives” at

I believe you're referring to this sentence? > "The art form has resurfaced, though, and in 1973 bladesmith William F. Moran unveiled his “Damascus knives” at the Knifemakers’ Guild Show." I read this as In 1973 Moran unveiled knives with the look of Damascus steel through a process he developed. The scare quotes reinforce the fact that it's not the same as the original Damascus steel.