Been a while since I've been here, I just wanted to say that, I think there is now an argument with actual evidence behind it of why Shanks may not be considered a swordsman as a Mihawk victim. We'll need to see how it ends up playing out in specifics, but spoilers ahead

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So in the newest Chapter Shamrock wielding a sword looking identical to Griffin Shank's Sword revealed that his sword named Cerberus became a literal Cerberus. Now looking at the fact he got it from Marijou and that Shanks went there and came back down, rejecting the life. He has a sword named after a mythical creature as well, so, assuming Shanks left to the top of the Grand Line after that last duel with Michael there is absolutely room for Shanks to have been a Devil Fruit Weapon wielder with a literal Griffin sword and still have been a Swordsman when Mihawk had an interest. Leading Mihawk to gain the title, Shanks to be considered something else now although inferior in swordsmanship directly.

We don't know for sure yet, but I've always said I'll change my mind when evidence is laid out. So I wanted to be the first to say that for the first time there is now an argument for Shanks potentially being stronger than Michael I can get behind. Not sure if that's the exact route Oda is going down but I won't assume Mihawk clears Shanks 9 times out of 10 anymore. I now don't know who wins. Just wanted to put that out there