“Guns Up” (Texas Tech)

“Guns Up” is the Texas Tech response to Hook ‘em, Horns,” the University of Texas hand gesture. Glenn Dippel (Texas Tech class of 1961) is credited with inventing and popularizing this “handgun” gesture (made with the thumb and index finger) in 1971-72.
     
   
Texas Tech - History & Traditions
Guns Up
The hand sign of Texas Tech is the “Guns Up” which was created in 1972 by a Texas Tech Graduate who was attending law school. The sign is made by extending the index finger outward while extending the thumb upward and tucking in the middle, little and fourth fingers to form a gun. The idea is that the Red Raiders will shoot down their opponents. The Guns Up sign is the widely recognized greeting of one Red Raider to another. It is also the sign of victory displayed by the crowd at every athletic event.
   
Wikipedia: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Guns Up
Guns Up is the handsign of the Red Raiders. It is made from a closed hand by extending the index finger forward and the thumb up. It was originated in 1972 by a Tech graduate, intending to symbolize shooting down the opponents.
 
Wikipedia: Hand Gesture
Bang bang or Pistols
The “bang bang” gesture is performed by raising the fist with the index finger and thumb extended. The index finger points at the recipient. The thumb is then brought down on top of the fingers. This imitation of the action of a revolver pistol is often meant to represent a handgun in children’s games. It may also be used menacingly to mean “I’m gonna kill you”, or simply as a playful greeting. The middle finger is often also extended to widen the “barrel”.
 
Texas Tech fans use a similar salute known as “guns up” to cheer for their sports teams. Also, the “bang bang” performed with both hands was a signature gesture of professional wrestler Mick Foley while he was in his “Cactus Jack” persona. This gesture was also used in the movie Happy Gilmore as Shooter McGavin’s trademark. 
 
Texas Tech - Libraries - Southwest Collection
Dippel, Glenn
Papers,1998
1 wallet (0.1 linear feet)
 
Items are a “Guns Up” sticker and a letter explaining its origin.  Glenn Dippel received his degree in Economics from Texas Technological College in 1961.  He works as a CPA in Temple, Texas.  His wife, Roxie, and himself created a “Guns Up” hand sign for Texas Tech.
 
Texas Tech Center for Campus Life - Traditions
GUNS UP
A 1998 issue of the Texas Techsan documents the origins of our well-known “Guns Up” symbol. L. Glenn Dippel ’61 wrote that he and his wife, Roxie ’70, were living in Austin in 1970. The omnipresent “Hook ’em Horns” hand signal was wearing on the Dippels. After much experimentation, the Dippels came up with the hand sign for a gun after looking long and hard at Raider Red and his oversized pistols. In 1971 Dippel and two fellow Red Raiders, brothers Bill ’68 and Roger ’72 von Rosenberg, had decals made that displayed the phrase “Gun ’Em Down.” Dippel contacted the Saddle Tramps and explained the decal. The Guns Up hand symbol was adopted and implemented by the Saddle Tramps and Texas Tech cheerleaders. The tradition is one of Tech’s most recognized.