try to use a P14 bayonet on a M1917 and a !7 bayonet on a P14, let me know how it works.
the rear sights use different springs, and one is set for .303, they other for 30-06.
also.
the same reason why the rear handguard and ring are different.
will they fit the rifle? sure. are they correct? no. will they perform correctly? no.
though the rest of the parts will interchange, they are marked differently, buttplate, swivels ect.
takes some time in messing with both rifles,
i have a saying,
do it right, or leave it alone.
many times iv looked at 17 for sale at a show, noticed the mix of 14 bits, had the guy just been patiant and found the right parts for the right rifle it would likely fetch the price he was asking.
youll find more 14 parts here, as a lot of DP 14,s were on the market 15 or so years ago, and were cheap, guys picked them up and stripped them for the receivers to build big bore hunting rifles.
17 parts however, are a bit tougher to find.
unless its a barrel, more 17 barrels available the 14,s
over the years iv had a couple hundred 17 barrels come and go.
iv had my hands on 2 P14 barrels.