A Chamchamal craftsman making bows by hand

SULAYMANIYAH — Aso Najat has spent four years making archery bows by hand in Chamchamal, using skills he picked up in his father’s carpentry shop and materials ordered from abroad.

“Since childhood, I enjoyed the trade while working with my father in the carpentry shop,” he told 964media. “After continuing with it, about four years ago I was able to realize my childhood passion by making bows and arrows.” A single bow takes about two full days.

He uses carbon fibre for the limbs and German wood for the grip, and orders some specialised materials from China. The bows draw between 30 and 60 pounds, and he says a 50-pound bow will send an arrow more than 150 metres at 45 degrees, with about 60 metres as a practical shooting distance.

They sell for around 150,000 dinars, about $98, and he makes one or two a week. Most buyers are young men and women, though some take them for display in guesthouses and large homes rather than to shoot.