@Sea:
Where does it State that Shanks is a SWORDSMEN?
Info blurb on Shanks in One Piece RED (pg 152)…...
本来左ききであるシャンクスはかつて、右の腰に長剣を携えていた。 ミホークとライバルだった 過去からみて も、その剣の実力は世界でもトップクラスだったのだろう
"At first, the left-handed Shanks had simply carried his sword on the right side. When he was a rival of Mihawk, he was regarded as having some of the world's top-class skills."
Literal translation….....
"Shanks, who is naturally left-handed, once held his long sword on his right hip. Even looking from the past where he and Mihawk were rivals, that sword's skill/power was the top class in the world."
Not to mention it states in the Manga that Shanks and Mihawk had "Legendary Duels!" Now for some more canon…...........
Shanks ALWAYS had his "long sword" since the beginning of One Piece.
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter01.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=29
Shanks used a sword on Gold Roger's ship.
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter434hq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=9746
As you can see Shanks casually asks Mihawk for a match (That is what rivals do).
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter96.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1907
Just another pic with his "long sword."
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceManga/onepiecechapter234.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4522
And Finally attacks Whitebeard (The strongest Man in the World) with his Sword!
http://groups.msn.com/OnePieceMangav-2/chapter434hq.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=9751
Also Shanks projected a "Spirit" which KO'd the lesser members of Whitebeard's ship, an intangible power that something Zoro only has displayed, a SWORDSMAN.
Shanks is a swordsman all the facts point to it and in my opinion Shanks and Mihakw WILL be the Final bosses for Luffy and Zoro!!!!