An optical information reader (10, 10a - 10c) comprising: a reading device (41, 43) which optically reads optical information; and a housing provided by mutually combining a plurality of cases (20, 30) such that the housing forms a housing space therein in which the reading device (41, 43) is housed, wherein the housing includes, as one of the cases (20, 30), a case which forms a gripping handle which is manually gripped by an operator when the operator makes the reading device (41, 43) execute predetermined processing of the reading device (41, 43) for reading the optical information, and the housing is provided with a predetermined operating surface portion formed as a part of the gripping handle, the operator being enabled to touch an outside surface of the predetermined operating surface portion when the operator grips the gripping handle, characterized in that: the gripping handle is provided with a piezoelectric sensor included in the reading device (41, 43), the piezoelectric sensor being provided inside the gripping handle at a site on the predetermined operating surface portion, the predetermined operating surface portion has a thickness which is thinner than other portions of the gripping handle such that an operator's pressing operation on the outside surface of the predetermined operating surface portion causes distortion thereof and being sensed by the piezoelectric sensor, and the gripping handle is formed at a part of the housing, the part being formed by one of the plurality of cases (20, 30) and excluding a joint between the cases (20, 30). a reading device (41, 43) which optically reads optical information; and a housing provided by mutually combining a plurality of cases (20, 30) such that the housing forms a housing space therein in which the reading device (41, 43) is housed, wherein the housing includes, as one of the cases (20, 30), a case which forms a gripping handle which is manually gripped by an operator when the operator makes the reading device (41, 43) execute predetermined processing of the reading device (41, 43) for reading the optical information, and the housing is provided with a predetermined operating surface portion formed as a part of the gripping handle, the operator being enabled to touch an outside surface of the predetermined operating surface portion when the operator grips the gripping handle, characterized in that: the gripping handle is provided with a piezoelectric sensor included in the reading device (41, 43), the piezoelectric sensor being provided inside the gripping handle at a site on the predetermined operating surface portion, the predetermined operating surface portion has a thickness which is thinner than other portions of the gripping handle such that an operator's pressing operation on the outside surface of the predetermined operating surface portion causes distortion thereof and being sensed by the piezoelectric sensor, and the gripping handle is formed at a part of the housing, the part being formed by one of the plurality of cases (20, 30) and excluding a joint between the cases (20, 30). the gripping handle is provided with a piezoelectric sensor included in the reading device (41, 43), the piezoelectric sensor being provided inside the gripping handle at a site on the predetermined operating surface portion, the predetermined operating surface portion has a thickness which is thinner than other portions of the gripping handle such that an operator's pressing operation on the outside surface of the predetermined operating surface portion causes distortion thereof and being sensed by the piezoelectric sensor, and the gripping handle is formed at a part of the housing, the part being formed by one of the plurality of cases (20, 30) and excluding a joint between the cases (20, 30).