[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

It is clear that Aragorn as discovered about the "Uruk-hai." But I had thought that Sauron had first bred the Uruk-hai some 400 years ago, of course a long time before Saruman. So, I can think of two possibilities, either Aragorn had never seen Uruk-hai before (which is the more likely one). Maybe, this was some odd crossing Saruman came up with, because it was of his nature to arm his soldiers with "man-like" weapons and gear.

This matter always interested me (maybe because Uruk-hai was my favourite chapter at certain time), but the only thing I can bring forward is what I think. So, the following is just my opinion on the matter, the opinion I always had but it's not verified from any sources.

I think that the Uruk-hai (and I decided, at least for myself, to make difference between "Uruk-hai" = these of Saruman; and mere "Uruks" = Sauron's "better" Orcs as it is said for example in the tale of years; not mere "snagas". This difference is, once again, just for my personal purposes). Now, I believe that the Uruk-hai were bred by Saruman, maybe by crossbreeding Orcs with Men, maybe by some different means. They did not fear light, and generally were more like Men; tall, with weapons of man-size (bows, broad swords - unlike Orc sabres). Then there were the Uruks of Sauron, like for example Grishnákh. Grishnákh, whatever he was, was not just a mere Snaga. The "mountain-worms", and the Snaga in Cirith Ungol (again, unlike Shagrat and maybe Gorbag) were something more, but I believe (personally, and just believe) that there was no Man blood in them. I base this mainly on the fact that at least from LotR (I'm not counting in possible, but unsolved debates about how the Orcs originally were created) it seems that no one has ever before crossed Orcs with Men (or it is not known in public, but from how things go in Middle-Earth, some wise man probably would if that happened, or it would come out just by observation, as in the case of Saruman's Uruk-hai). Treebeard says:

Originally Posted by Two Towers, Chapter IV: Treebeard

"(...) Worse than that: [Saruman] has been doing something to [the Orcs]; something dangerous. For these Isengarders are more like wicked Men. It is a mark of evil things that came in the Great Darkness that they cannot abide the Sun; but Saruman's Orcs can endure it, even if they hate it. I wonder what he has done? Are they Men he has ruined, or has he blended the races of Orcs and Men? That would be a black evil!"

The beginning of this speech supports the idea that indeed no Dark Lord has before done anything similar; and the last sentence verifies it: Treebeard's final judgement is radical and however isolated he was, it is clear he never encountered anything like that. Even Sauron never did this. So, if we read about Sauron's Uruks (for example in the connection with Ithilien in the Tale of the Years), I am inclined to think that they are something else, just "upgraded Orcs", where Saruman's Uruk-hai are the ones who are almost Men and do not fear the light. Grishnákh is not a Snaga, that's clear: and yet, during the Orcs' run in daylight, the Uruk-hai of Isengard are much faster (though even here the narrator is somewhat ambivalent):

Originally Posted by Two Towers, Chapter III: Uruk-hai

Either because they were quicker and hardier, or because of some plan of Grishnákh's, the Isengarders gradually passed through the Orcs of Mordor, and Grishnákh's folk closed in behind. Soon they were gaining also on the Northerners ahead.

Concerning Aragorn, he has, as we know, passed near the Black Gate and the valley of Morgul during his quest after Gollum. The "Uruks of Mordor" already existed at that time, according to the Tale of the Years, and it is not probable that he won't see or encounter them (and as a Ranger, he certainly won't overlook them). When he says about the Uruk-hai of Isengard that "they don't look like Orcs at all", it is, in my opinion, a sign that they look totally different than any other Orc Aragorn has seen. That would imply that the Mordor Uruks, if seen by Aragorn, have different traits that differ them from the little Orcs than the Uruk-hai of Isengard have. Let's say, the Isengarders differ from the Snagas because of X, but the Uruks of Sauron differ because of Y, but where Y is still "orcish"; X is more man-like and it seems "alien".

I am also interested how this works together with these famous "half-orcs" and "squint-eyed ill-favoured fellows", who surely were Men but not Orcs; however, there is some connection evident between the two. But what exactly, I am not sure. That would be an interesting question to answer.