I don't know whether these are in the top 5 of not, but i have many happy customers all over the world.

Please give my website a look, and feel free to contact me if you have questions.... I have a pretty short waiting list on custom bows right now.      Kirk

http://bigfootbows.com/b/bows/

There may be equals, but none better than northern mist

For me MOAB, if find it.  Northern Mist longbows and Howard Hill Longbows.

Robertson Primal Styk

I'm a huge Big River fan, but John has passed.  He never made a large number of bows, but if you can find one, which rarely happens, strike quickly.  I have a recurve that is better than average, patterned after the Kodiak.  Two D/R longbows, one patterned after the 21st Century that shoots a heavy arrow faster than almost all recurves I've tried.  Lastly, a mild D/R longbow with thin limbs that I just found.  Still getting to know her, but at 53.5# she is pretty snappy.  Shooting 635 grain CX Heritage 250's with authority.  Need to get some woodies through her.  Still experimenting.

For me the Toelke Whip checks all the boxes; smooth, quiet, quick and a great grip. The correct grip can make or break a bow for me. Dan has 3 options for a grip. Great fellow to work with.

I have 4 R/D longbows I have picked up over the years that I really like . All were bought used from trad sites ,and all were 300-400$ range . Like WudStix said ,some of them are hard to find because bowyers have retired .

A Black Creek Siren , a Hoots longbow ,a Heartland Pulse ,and a Timberghost Genesis .

Now that Im thinking about them , a couple are missing from the rack since my two sons have moved out .
Hmmmmm..........

MOAB by Jim Reynolds is another keeper.  Also, another bow that is tough to come across.