Merging threads

Often through no fault of our own we get stymied by the search function,from a member's advise I resorted to use both the New topic and the search function together but sometimes came up snake eyes, a solution.. is there a way of merging two threads on the same topic some answers and question are unique to both threads,lets say we have threads mins or even a couple of hrs apart off course primacy should go to the older by default,now recognition and credits like flags and what nots gained before mergers remained intact to the junior thread that got deleted, the senior thread keeps flags and stars prior and after the merger..
I am more interested in the Q&A than S&Fs although we all appreciate recognition.
Give it thought Mods